Differential effects of d-amphetamine, pipradrol and bupropion on shuttlebox self-stimulation.
The shuttlebox self-stimulation test is claimed by Atrens to differentiate drug effects on brain stimulation reward from those on performance variables. Thus, for example, drug-induced enhancement of the reward value of stimulation should be reflected in a selective reduction of the latency to initiate stimulation (the ON latency), as compared with the latency to terminate stimulation (the OFF latency). The effects of the psychostimulant drugs, d-amphetamine and pipradrol, and the antidepressant, bupropion, were evaluated in this procedure as well as in a bar-pressing test of self-stimulation. Pipradrol (3 and 10 mg/kg) and bupropion (54 mg/kg) reduced ON latencies by 40% or more but failed to shorten OFF latencies, indicating that performance variables were not involved in the ON latency decrements. Although d-amphetamine (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) shortened ON latencies, the 1.0 mg/kg dose also reduced OFF latencies. Drug doses that reduced ON latencies also increased bar-pressing self-stimulation. The shuttlebox self-stimulation test appears to be capable of discriminating drug-induced enhancement in brain stimulation reward from performance variables.
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D016642:Bupropion; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011427:Propiophenones; D016642:Bupropion; D003913:Dextroamphetamine