title: KCNQ2/3 channel agonist flupirtine reduces cocaine place preference in rats.
abstract: The efficacy of KCNQ2/3 channel agonists against drug reward has not been defined despite their ability to reduce locomotor-stimulant and dopamine-activating effects of psychostimulants. We tested the hypothesis that flupirtine (FLU) (2.5, 10, 20 mg/kg), a KCNQ2/3 agonist, reduces cocaine (15 mg/kg) conditioned place preference. FLU (20 mg/kg), injected concurrently with cocaine during conditioning, reduced the development of cocaine conditioned place preference. FLU (20 mg/kg) also reduced cocaine locomotor activation without affecting baseline activity. The disruption of cocaine place preference by FLU suggests that KCNQ2/3 channels influence cocaine's rewarding effects.
authors.affiliation: aCenter for Substance Abuse Research bDepartment of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rawls
mesh_terms: D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel / Q000819:agonists / Q000187:drug effects*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D003042:Cocaine; C034161:flupirtine