title: Repeated electroconvulsive shock attenuates the depressive-like effects of d-amphetamine withdrawal on brain reward function in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The withdrawal of humans from high doses of psychostimulant drugs can result in a transient syndrome which appears isomorphic to endogenous depression. One of the more prominent symptoms is a loss of hedonic capacity; in animals, the anhedonia associated with amphetamine withdrawal has been measured objectively by decrements in responding for intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To date, the effects of amphetamine withdrawal on ICSS responding have been reversed by different antidepressant drugs. In the present study, we sought to reverse withdrawal-induced anhedonia by administration of repeated electroconvulsive shocks (ECS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats with electrodes in the lateral hypothalamus were trained on an ascending-series current intensity ICSS paradigm until stable levels of responding were attained. Half of the animals were then administered a 4-day escalating dose schedule of d-amphetamine, and tests for ICSS responding started 12 h after the final injection. During withdrawal, all animals received daily treatment with either ECS or sham-ECS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amphetamine withdrawal was associated with reduced ICSS responding; animals treated with ECS exhibited a facilitated recovery compared to sham-ECS treated animals, and returned to control levels of ICSS responding 24 h earlier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECS was able to mitigate the anhedonic effects of d-amphetamine withdrawal, and provides additional support for the use of psychostimulant withdrawal as a model of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Alasdair M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Athanasios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zis
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004597:Electroshock / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012201:Reward; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003913:Dextroamphetamine