title: Synergistic effects of ethanol and cocaine on brain stimulation reward.
abstract: The effects of two widely abused drugs, ethanol and cocaine, were examined alone and in combination on intracranial reward processes. In agreement with previous research, higher doses of both cocaine and ethanol alone produced facilitation of behavior maintained by brain stimulation reward. Low intraperitoneal doses of ethanol and cocaine, which alone did not affect performance, were found to reduce stimulation reward threshold and modestly increase response rate. The enhancement of brain stimulation reward by the combination of ethanol and cocaine suggests that both drugs may produce their rewarding effects through common neuronal substrates and that they may potentiate the abuse of each other.
authors.affiliation: Howard University.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: June
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine