Postretrieval propranolol disrupts a cocaine conditioned place preference.
The current study examined whether a postretrieval drug memory could be disrupted by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, administered following reactivation in a cocaine-mediated conditioned place preference paradigm. Following cocaine conditioning, rats were given a test of conditioned place preference, followed immediately by intraperitoneal administration of propranolol or saline. Rats that received propranolol following the preference test showed no preference for the cocaine-paired floor during a subsequent test, while vehicle-treated rats continued to express a preference for the cocaine-paired floor. These deficits in behavior were specific to retrieval of the cocaine-mediated memory, suggesting that postretrieval propranolol induced an impairment of drug-seeking behavior that is consistent with the disruption of a reconsolidation phase following retrieval.
Bernardi
Rick E
RE
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. bernardi@ohsu.edu
Lattal
Kennon M
KM
Berger
Stephen P
SP
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D011433:Propranolol; D003042:Cocaine