The reinforcing properties of the mixed agonist-antagonist buprenorphine as assessed by brain-stimulation reward.
The effect of buprenorphine on the threshold for rewarding brain stimulation to the medial forebrain bundle-lateral hypothalamus was determined in rats using a rate-independent psychophysical method. Increased sensitivity to rewarding brain stimulation (i.e., lowering of the reward threshold) was used as the measure of a drug's reinforcing action. Buprenorphine (SC) produced a significant dose-dependent lowering of the reward threshold, with effective doses varying from 0.004-0.06 mg/kg. These results are consistent with buprenorphine's euphoria producing effects in humans and its ability to sustain self-administration in animals and suggest that buprenorphine may have abuse potential.
Hubner
C B
CB
Laboratory of Behavioral Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118.
Kornetsky
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012201:Reward
D002047:Buprenorphine