title: N-benzylpiperazine has characteristics of a drug of abuse.
abstract: The ability of benzylpiperazine (BZP) to substitute for cocaine and to initiate self-administration in drug-naive subjects was assessed to determine whether BZP has abuse liability. Further, the effects of a pretreatment with dopamine D1-like receptor antagonist (SCH23390) were examined to elucidate the mechanisms associated with BZP reward. First, the ability for BZP (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg/infusion) to substitute for cocaine self-administration was assessed, and the acquisition of BZP (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration by drug-naive and untrained rats was determined during a 15-day period. Subsequently, dose-effect curves for cocaine (0.06, 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg/infusion) and BZP self-administration (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/infusion) and the effect of SCH23390 (0.00 or 0.02 mg/kg) on BZP and cocaine self-administration were examined. BZP substituted for cocaine, and drug-naive rats rapidly acquired BZP self-administration. BZP self-administration was maintained by a more restricted range of doses than was cocaine self-administration, and responding maintained by BZP was sensitive to dopamine antagonism. The present findings indicate that BZP self-administration, like cocaine self-administration, is readily acquired and mediated by dopaminergic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. kbrennan@clear.net.nz
authors.forename: Katharine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: Lincoln S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hely
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gittings
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colussi-Mas
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
authors.forename: Rod A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schenk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C461488:N-benzylpiperazine; D010879:Piperazines; D003042:Cocaine