title: Behavioral sensitization produced by a single administration of apomorphine: implications for the role of Pavlovian conditioning in the mediation of context-specific sensitization.
abstract: The present study examined the minimal number of exposures to the D1/D2 agonist apomorphine capable of producing behavioral sensitization. Rats received one (experiment 1) or two administrations on two successive days (experiment 2) of apomorphine (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg) paired or unpaired to an open-field environment. After 2 days of drug withdrawal, the rats received a challenge injection with the same dose of apomorphine (sensitization test) and locomotion, rearing and sniffing were measured. The results of the first experiment showed that locomotor sensitization occurred after a single acute exposure to apomorphine and that 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg treatments were equally effective. This sensitization effect was context-specific and was limited to locomotion. The second experiment revealed a differential dose effect on the sensitization test. Two treatments with 2.0 mg/kg potentiated locomotor sensitization as compared with a single treatment but two treatments with 0.5 mg/kg did not increase the sensitization effect more than the single 0.5 mg/kg treatment. This result indicates an interaction between drug dose and frequency of drug treatment for the induction of apomorphine locomotor sensitization. In that the sensitization effects are considered to be a core contributor to psychostimulant addiction, the present findings are of importance to understanding addiction because they indicate that sensitization processes can be initiated with a single drug experience and amplified with exposure to higher drug dosage levels.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Pharmacology Group, Laboratory of Animal Health, State University of North Fluminense, Avenida Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Enrrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bloise
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Marinete Pinheiro
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D001058:Apomorphine