Neuronal mechanisms of phencyclidine-induced place aversion and preference in the conditioned place preference task.
Place conditioning paradigms are widely used for determining the motivational properties of drugs. Phencyclidine (PCP) has been a common drug of abuse during the past two decades and has a rewarding effect in animals. However, PCP produces place aversion in the conditioned place preference (CPP) task in animals. Here, we report the possible neuronal mechanisms of PCP-induced place aversion and preference in the CPP task in rodents. In naive rats and mice, PCP dose-dependently produced place aversion and PCP had a significant effect at the doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg in rats and mice, respectively. The aversive effect of PCP (4 mg/kg) in rats was significantly attenuated by ritanserin (3 and 10 mg/kg), a serotonin 15-HT2) receptor antagonist whereas the lesion of serotonergic (5-HTergic) neurons by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (100 micrograms i.c.v.) and alpha-methyl-rho-tyrosine (AMPT; 100 mg/kg), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, did not affect the aversive effect of PCP. In rats pretreated with PCP (10 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, tolerance was developed to PCP (4 mg/kg)-induced place aversion. In rats and mice pretreated with PCP (10 mg/kg/day) for 28 days, however, PCP dose-dependently produced place preference but not aversion. The preferred effect of PCP (8 mg/kg) in mice preteated with PCP (10 mg/kg/day for 28 days) was significantly attenuated by AMPT (100 mg/kg) and 6-hydroxydopamine (100 micrograms i.c.v.) a dopaminergic (DAergic) neurotoxin, but not by DSP-4 (30 mg/kg), a noradrenergic neurotoxin and ritanserin. In mice pretreated with methamphetamine (1 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, PCP (8 mg/kg) produced place preference. These findings suggest that 5-HTergic and DAergic systems are involved in the PCP-induced place aversion and preference, respectively, and some changes in the neuronal systems including DAergic systems, induced by repeated PCP treatment play a critical role in the addiction of PCP.
Noda
Y
Y
Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Nabeshima
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D010622:Phencyclidine