The dopamine D(2) partial agonist and antagonist terguride decreases heroin self-administration on fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules.
Dopamine partial agonists have been suggested to be potential therapeutic candidates for pharmacological intervention in drug addiction. These drugs bind to dopamine receptors with high affinity and low intrinsic activity and are hypothesized to behave as functional antagonists in conditions of high dopaminergic tone. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of terguride, a partial dopamine agonist at the dopamine D(2) receptor, on intravenous heroin self-administration on fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules of reinforcement. The effects of terguride on oral sweet solution (4% sucrose) self-administration on a fixed-ratio schedule were also tested. Terguride dose-dependently decreased heroin self-administration on the fixed-ratio schedule and decreased the maximum number of responses for heroin self-administration on a progressive-ratio schedule. In contrast, terguride did not significantly affect oral sucrose self-administration. These data suggest that terguride may represent a novel pharmacological strategy for the treatment of opiate addiction.
Zhang
Dengke
D
Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, Zhejiang, PR China.
Wang
Xuyi
X
Xiang
Xiaojun
X
Chen
Hongxian
H
Zhang
Jian
J
Su
Qiaorong
Q
Hao
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008090:Lisuride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000819:agonists*; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012646:Self Administration; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013395:Sucrose
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C006208:dironyl; D013395:Sucrose; D008090:Lisuride