title: Baclofen antagonises intravenous self-administration of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in mice.
abstract: gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a widely used recreational drug known to exert positive reinforcing effects in animals and humans. The GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen has been proved to possess antimotivational effect and to inhibit alcohol, cocaine, heroin and nicotine intake. In the present study we evaluated the effect of baclofen on i.v. self-administration of GHB in drug-naive mice under a fixed-ratio (FR-1) schedule of reinforcement and nose-poking-like response as operandum. Results show that baclofen was able to completely prevent GHB seeking behaviour, decreasing the rate of responding to basal values, without showing any reinforcing properties when made contingent on nose-poking response. Our findings demonstrate that baclofen antagonises GHB i.v. self-administration, supporting an important role for the GABA(B) receptor in reward-related mechanisms underlying addictive behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari and Centre for Neuropharmacology, CNR, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fattore
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Martellotta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deiana
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fratta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D018755:GABA Agonists; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D001418:Baclofen