Abstract | RATIONALE: OBJECTIVES: To investigate further the effects of baclofen on maintenance and reinstatement of cocaine-reinforced behavior in rats. METHODS: Two groups of rats were trained to self-administer IV cocaine (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg per infusion) during daily 7-h sessions under a fixed-ratio 1 schedule. Rats were pretreated with baclofen (1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg IP) or saline before the session for 5 consecutive days. An additional group of rats was trained to self-administer IV cocaine (0.4 mg/kg per infusion) during the first 2 h of daily 7-h sessions. Cocaine was replaced by saline for the remaining 5 h of the session. Once behavior had stabilized over the 7-h period, priming injections of saline (IV), cocaine (3.2 mg/kg IV) or baclofen (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg IP) were administered prior to hour 4. Injections of baclofen (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg IP) or saline were also given before priming injections of cocaine. RESULTS: Pretreatment with the two higher doses of baclofen (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) decreased the number of cocaine infusions in both maintenance groups (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg) over the 5-day treatment period. Baclofen had a greater suppressant effect on responding maintained by the lower dose of cocaine. Priming injections of baclofen (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) or saline did not reinstate responding. However, these same doses of baclofen dose-dependently reduced the reinstatement of responding produced by priming injections of cocaine. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The magnitude of the suppressant effects of baclofen on maintenance of cocaine self-administration depends upon the maintenance dose, 2) baclofen may be useful in preventing reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, and 3) compared to maintenance, reinstatement of responding is more sensitive to the suppressant effects of baclofen.
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Authors | U C Campbell, S T Lac, M E Carroll |
Journal | Psychopharmacology
(Psychopharmacology (Berl))
Vol. 143
Issue 2
Pg. 209-14
(Apr 1999)
ISSN: 0033-3158 [Print] Germany |
PMID | 10326784
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
- GABA Agonists
- Baclofen
- Cocaine
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Topics |
- Animals
- Baclofen
(pharmacology)
- Cocaine
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- GABA Agonists
(pharmacology)
- Injections, Intravenous
- Male
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Self Administration
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