title: Evaluation of the reinforcing and discriminative stimulus effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in rhesus monkeys.
abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a metabolite of GABA that is present in the CNS and fulfils at least some of the criteria for a neurotransmitter. Its effects are generally similar to those of CNS depressants and include ataxia, sleep and anesthesia. It has also been suggested that GHB is a drug of abuse. The present experiment was designed to evaluate GHB in procedures predictive of abuse and dependence potential in rhesus monkeys. Three monkeys were surgically prepared with indwelling silicone venous catheters and allowed to self-administer methohexital or saline in twice-daily experimental sessions. Other groups of monkeys were trained in drug discrimination paradigms to discriminate D-amphetamine (AMPH; n = 4), pentobarbital (PB; n = 3) or triazolam (n = 3) from saline. Another group was maintained on diazepam daily and trained to discriminate flumazenil from saline (n = 2). GHB (0.01-10 mg/kg per injection) maintained self-administration marginally above saline levels at one dose (3.2 or 10 mg/kg) in two of the three monkeys tested. GHB (1.0-178 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.) or intragastrically (i.g.)) did not reliably substitute as a discriminative stimulus for any of the training conditions. Taken together with previous results, the present experiment suggests that GHB has, at most, low potential for abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA. woolvert@fiona.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Woolverton
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rowlett
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Winger
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Gerak
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: France
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000209:etiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012978:Sodium Oxybate