title: Effects of central neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism on cocaine- and opiate-induced locomotor activity and self-administration behaviour in rats.
abstract: The neuropeptide substance P (SP) and its preferred receptor, the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor, have been implicated in some of the reward-related behavioural effects of abused drugs, including psychostimulants and opiates. The first objective of the present series of experiments was to assess the role of the NK-1 receptor in two reward-related behavioural effects of cocaine: locomotor activity and self-administration. In tests for locomotor activity, rats were given intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of the selective NK-1 receptor antagonist, GR82334 (0, 10, 50 pmol), prior to systemic injections of cocaine. In self-administration experiments, rats were trained to self-administer cocaine on a fixed-ratio 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Following acquisition of stable responding, animals were pretreated with GR82334 (0, 2, 10, 50 pmol; ICV) prior to subsequent self-administration sessions. Based on evidence suggesting a potentially selective role for NK-1 receptors in opiate reward, we also examined the effects of GR82334 on morphine-induced locomotor activity and heroin self-administration. Results showed that GR82334 had no effect on cocaine-induced locomotor activity or cocaine self-administration, but attenuated morphine-induced locomotor activity and increased heroin self-administration. These findings suggest that endogenous activity at NK-1 receptors may play a specific role in opiate-induced, but not cocaine-induced, locomotor activation and reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G3. fplacenz@alcor.concordia.ca
authors.forename: Franca M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Placenza
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Franco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vaccarino
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010803:Physalaemin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; C079014:GR 82334; D010803:Physalaemin; D003042:Cocaine