title: Effect of L-tryptophan pretreatment on d-amphetamine self administration.
abstract: Pretreatment with doses of the amino acid, L-tryptophan, known to increase brain serotonin levels, markedly reduced the number of intravenous self-injections of d-amphetamine in rats previously demonstrating stable self-administration patterns. This attenuation of response was dose dependent in both magnitude and duration. Pretreatment with L-tryptophan did not alter the response rate in animals trained on an FR-40 food reinforced paradigm. L-tryptophan administration did not alter the apparent turnover of dopamine in nucleus accumbens septi, important since manipulation of dopamine in this brain area exerts a marked influence on psychomotor stimulant self-administration. These results are consistent with previous reports suggesting a role of serotonergic neurons in the self-administration of d-amphetamine.
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012646:Self Administration; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid