title: An assessment of MDPV-induced place preference in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most drugs of abuse have both aversive and rewarding effects, and the use and abuse potential of such drugs is thought to be a function of a balance of these affective properties. Characterizing these effects and their relative balance may provide insight into abuse vulnerability. One drug that has received recent attention is methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a monoamine transport inhibitor similar to, but significantly more potent than, cocaine. MDPV is self-administered and has been shown to produce aversive and rewarding effects in adult rats. The present study extended this characterization of the affective properties of MDPV by examining its ability to support place conditioning at a range of doses known to produce taste avoidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with MDPV (1, 1.8 or 3.2mg/kg) or saline and placed on the non-preferred side of a place conditioning apparatus for 30 min. On the next day, they were given an injection of saline and placed on the preferred side. This was repeated three times for a total of four conditioning cycles, and side preference was assessed on a final test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All doses of MDPV produced significant increases in time spent in the drug-paired chamber, an effect not seen in vehicle-treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  That the same doses of MDPV induced both taste avoidance and place preference allows assessments of how other factors might impact these effects and how they may, in turn, contribute to its abuse liability.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, United States. Electronic address: hk9905a@american.edu.
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, United States.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wetzell
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Kenner C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, United States.
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012201:Reward; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
chemical_list: D052117:Benzodioxoles; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
keywords: MDPV; Place preference; Reward