The effects of infusions of CART 55-102 into the basolateral amygdala on amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.
BACKGROUND
The affective aspects of D: -amphetamine (AMPH) may be mediated, in part, by cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). The formation of context-drug associations produces either conditioned place preference (CPP) or conditioned place aversion (CPA).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine whether intra-BLA infusions of CART 55-102 are either rewarding or aversive and modulate AMPH reward.


METHODS
Rats were implanted with bilateral cannulae in the BLA, were subjected to place conditioning, and were tested for CPP or CPA. Rats were conditioned with either intra-BLA infusions of artificial cerebral spinal fluid or one of three dose of CART 55-102 (1, 2, or 4 microg/side), intra-BLA infusions of a subrewarding dose of CART 55-102 (1 microg/side) plus injections of a subrewarding dose of AMPH (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), or intra-BLA infusions of an aversive dose of CART 55-102 (4 microg/side) plus injections of a rewarding dose of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.).


RESULTS
Intra-BLA infusions of 2 microg/side CART 55-102 produced CPP, 4 microg/side produced CPA, and 1 microg/side produced neither CPP nor CPA. Intra-BLA infusions of a subrewarding dose of CART 55-102 (1 microg/side) plus injections of a subrewarding dose of AMPH (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) produced CPP. Intra-BLA infusions of an aversive dose of CART 55-102 (4 microg/side) plus injections of a rewarding dose of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) produced neither CPP nor CPA.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the affective properties of intra-BLA CART 55-102 and its ability to either facilitate or block AMPH reward are dose dependent.
Rademacher
David J
DJ
Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA. david.rademacher@rosalindfranklin.edu
Sullivan
Elyse M
EM
Figge
David A
DA
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012201:Reward; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C428723:cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript protein (55-102); D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein