Pre-exposure of rats to amphetamine sensitizes self-administration of this drug under a progressive ratio schedule (original) (raw)

Abstract

Two groups of male rats were tested to determine whether pre-exposure to _d_-amphetamine would enhance the motivation to self-administer the drug under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. In the first phase of the experiment, one group of rats received _d_-amphetamine (2 mg/kg IP), while a second group received saline on alternate days for a total of ten injections. Following a 21-day drug withdrawal period, behavioral sensitization was confirmed by a significant increase in amphetamine-induced stereotypy in the _d_-amphetamine-pretreated group, relative to the saline-pretreated group. In the second phase of the study, all rats were implanted with chronic jugular catheters and trained to self-administer _d_-amphetamine (0.2 mg/kg per infusion) under a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. The progressive ratio paradigm was then imposed for 7 consecutive days; _d_-amphetamine-pretreated rats attained significantly higher break points than saline-pretreated animals. These data suggest that pre-exposure to _d_-amphetamine may enhance the motivation to self-administer this drug.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Department of Psychology, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver BC, Canada V6T 1Z4, , , , , , CA
    Adrianna Mendrek, Charles D. Blaha & A. G. Phillips

Authors

  1. Adrianna Mendrek
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  2. Charles D. Blaha
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  3. A. G. Phillips
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Received: 16 July 1997 / Final version: 22 October 1997

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Mendrek, A., Blaha, C. & Phillips, A. Pre-exposure of rats to amphetamine sensitizes self-administration of this drug under a progressive ratio schedule.Psychopharmacology 135, 416–422 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050530

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