Naltrexone reduces ethanol- and sucrose-reinforced responding in rhesus monkeys

 These experiments evaluated the ability of naltrexone (NTX) to reduce selectively oral and IV ethanol-reinforced responding, and examined the ethanol-NTX interaction in terms of the competitive opioid antagonist property of NTX. Five rhesus monkeys self-administered ethanol or sucrose and concurrently available water. Ethanol concentration was varied from 0.25% to 8% (w/v). Naltrexone (0.032–0.32 mg/kg) or saline was given IM 30 min prior to some drinking sessions. NTX (0.32 mg/kg) reduced ethanol-reinforced responding at the concentration that maintained the most responding (1% or 2%). NTX (0.1 mg/kg) reduced ethanol-reinforced responding, both at a low ethanol concentration (0.25%) that produced little ethanol intake (g/kg), and at a higher concentration (4%) with an appreciable intake. Thus, NTX (0.1 mg/kg) shifted the ethanol concentration-consumption curve down, in an insurmountable manner. NTX (0.1 and 0.32 mg/kg) also reduced reinforced responding for sucrose 100 g/l. In another experiment, three rhesus monkeys were given opportunities to self-administer ethanol IV. NTX (0.1 mg/kg) reduced the number of ethanol injections obtained by the monkeys at all ethanol doses tested (0.01, 0.032, and 0.1 g/kg per injection).The dose-effect curve was also shifted down. These results showed that NTX reduced behavior maintained by either ethanol or sucrose non-selectively. Furthermore, the ability of NTX to suppress ethanol-reinforced responding did not depend on the route of ethanol administration and was not overcome by increasing the concentration or dose per injection of ethanol. Received: 11 November 1997 / Final version: 19 March 1998     

Effects of buprenorphine on candy and sweetened fluid self-administration by rhesus monkeys

Abstract Rationale. Previous studies have shown that buprenorphine differentially suppresses the reinforcing effects of different drugs (cocaine, alfentanil), drug versus nondrug reinforcers (food, drug), and the same reinforcer (food) maintained under different schedules of reinforcement. Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether buprenorphine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) differentially affects candy versus sweetened fluid self-administration. The hypotheses were that (1) candy would maintain higher rates of responding and would be chosen on more occasions than sweetened fluid, and (2) buprenorphine would produce smaller disruptions in responding for the more-preferred reinforcer. Methods. During separate sessions, rhesus monkeys self-administered candy alone, sweetened fluid alone, or had the opportunity to choose between candy and sweetened fluid. Monkeys responded under a second order, two-chain schedule of reinforcement. Results. Candy was a more-preferred reinforcer than sweetened fluid. Buprenorphine significantly decreased rates of responding for fluid, but increased rates of responding for candy. Although buprenorphine significantly decreased both candy and fluid intake, it produced a more robust, and longer-lasting suppression of sweetened-fluid intake than candy. Choice to self-administer candy or fluid was not affected by buprenorphine. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that behavior maintained by a less-preferred reinforcer is more easily disrupted by buprenorphine than is behavior maintained by a more-preferred reinforcer. Electronic Publication     

Clocinnamox inhibits the intravenous self-administration of opioid agonists in rhesus monkeys: comparison with effects on opioid agonist-mediated antinociception

 The effects of CCAM, an insurmountable mu opioid receptor antagonist, were studied on the intravenous self-administration and thermoantinociception of alfentanil and nalbuphine, high- and low-efficacy opioid agonists, respectively, in rhesus monkeys. A single dose of 0.1 mg/kg CCAM IV reduced alfentanil’s reinforcing potency in an FR30 TO 45s schedule 10-fold within a 24-h period. The maximum response rates remained essentially unchanged. At 1 mg/kg, CCAM caused a 300-fold shift of the alfentanil dose-response curve and also depressed the maximum response rates. CCAM also blocked insurmountably responding for nalbuphine, which was essentially abolished in two of three animals after a dose of 0.1 mg/kg CCAM and in all animals after 1 mg/kg. The acute insurmountable antagonism of alfentanil and nalbuphine self-administration by CCAM was used to determine the (relative initial) efficacy values of both agonists. Efficacy values, tau, were 391 for alfentanil and 196 for nalbuphine; the apparent in vivo dissociation constants, K_A, were 0.16 mg/kg per injection (i.e., 350 nmol/kg per injection) for alfentanil and 0.14 mg/kg (370 nmol/kg per injection) for nalbuphine. In comparison, in a rhesus monkey 50°C warm-water tail withdrawal assay, the tau values were 11 for alfentanil and 0.92 for nalbuphine, and the K_A values were 0.2 mg/kg (440 nmol/kg) for alfentanil and 0.15 mg/kg (400 nmol/kg) for nalbuphine. Therefore, it seems that the higher potency of alfentanil and nalbuphine in self-administration as compared to thermal antinociception in rhesus monkeys is predominantly due to a larger efficacy of the same agonist in self-administration (i.e., a larger receptor pool) rather than differences in apparent in vivo affinity. Received: 10 May 1996 / Final version: 27 August 1996     

Glucocorticoid-reinforced responding in the rhesus monkey

Rationale: Glucocorticoids have been reported to have rewarding effects in rats and may lead to drug-seeking behavior in humans under some circumstances. Objectives: The present study investigated whether glucocorticoids would be self-administered intravenously by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Methods: Ten monkeys, 7 male and 3 female, were maintained on a fixed ratio 10 (30 or 100), time-out 10-s schedule for 0.1 mg/kg methohexital or saline injections. Dexamethasone (0.03–0.3 mg/kg), methylprednisolone (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) and hydrocortisone (0.3–3.0 mg/kg) were periodically substituted for methohexital or saline. Results: Dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) was self-administered by all of the male monkeys on the first, but not on subsequent occasions. It was hypothesized that suppression of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activity by these exogenous glucocorticoids following their first presentation may have interfered with their reinforcing effects on subsequent evaluation. Subsequently, plasma adrenocorticotropin and cortisol were measured in four male monkeys to ascertain that normal basal HPA activity had resumed prior to each glucocorticoid substitution. Of the ten monkeys that were tested, only one reliably self-administered dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone, and he did so regardless of whether his basal HPA activity was suppressed. This monkey differed from some of the other monkeys both behaviorally and in his response to intravenous corticotropin releasing hormone. None of the three female monkeys that were tested with selected glucocorticoid doses showed any evidence of glucocorticoid reinforcement on any occasion. Conclusions: The results indicate that glucocorticoids were not reinforcing to the majority of monkeys in this study; nevertheless, large individual differences may exist in proclivity of monkeys to self-inject these compounds. Received: 7 December 1998 / Final version: 29 May 1999     

The effects of benzamide analogues on cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys

Rationale: Based on the differential distribution of dopamine (DA) D₃ receptors in mesolimbic regions relative to nigrostriatal regions, the hypothesis was that D₃-selective antagonists (i.e., higher affinity at D₃- than D₂-receptors) would be more potent than D₂-selective antagonists at decreasing total cocaine intake relative to disrupting rates of responding. Objective: To evaluate the effects of acute administration of seven DA antagonists with varying affinities for D₂ and D₃ receptors in monkeys self-administering cocaine. Methods: Rhesus monkeys were trained to self-administer intravenous cocaine (0.01–0.3 mg/kg per injection) under a fixed-interval (FI) 5-min schedule during daily 4-h sessions. The use of a FI schedule allowed for independent assessment of rate effects and changes in reinforcement frequency as a consequence of drug pretreatments. The compounds examined, in order of D₃ binding affinity, were: 2,3-dimethoxy-N-(9-p-fluorobenzyl)-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3β-yl benzamide (MABN) = eticlopride = 5-bromo- 2,3-dimethoxy-N-[1-(4-fluorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl]benz-amide (BBP) > spiperone > fluoroclebopride (FCP) > 2,3-dimethoxy-N-(p-fluorobenzyl)piperdin-4-yl benzamide (MBP) > haloperidol. Results: In the absence of any pretreatments, cocaine-maintained responding varied as a function of dose and was characterized as an inverted U-shaped function, while cocaine intake increased in a dose-related fashion. When the dose of cocaine that maintained peak rates was available, all DA antagonists decreased response rates and cocaine intake in a dose- dependent manner. Increases in cocaine dose attenuated the effects of the DA antagonists, resulting in rightward shifts of the cocaine dose–response curves. Based on the ratio of behavioral potency at decreasing response rates relative to intake (ED₅₀ rate/ED₅₀ intake) when the highest cocaine dose was available, the order of potency and ED₅₀ ratio values were: MABN (2.5) > eticlopride (1.63) > BBP = spiperone (1.5) > FCP (1.35) > MBP = haloperidol (0.89). This order parallels each compound’s affinity at D₃ receptors (r ²=0.84) to a greater degree than D₂ receptor affinity (r ²=0.34). Conclusions: These results, using a FI schedule of cocaine self-administration, suggest that D₃ receptor antagonists are more likely to selectively decrease intake relative to response rates than D₂ receptor antagonists. Received: 8 January 1999 / Final version: 15 June 1999     

Effects of delivery rate and non-contingent infusion of cocaine on cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys

 The goal of this study was to determine whether slowly infused, response-independent cocaine would reduce cocaine self-administration in an animal model of drug abuse. Seven male rhesus monkeys self-administered IV cocaine on a fixed-ratio 30 schedule (5-min time-out). With unit dose (0.056 mg/kg per infusion for one monkey and 0.032 mg/kg per infusion for the rest) and infusion volume (0.5 ml) held constant, the rate of delivery was manipulated (0.125, 0.1875, 0.375, 0.75 and 3 ml/min, with infusions lasting 240, 160, 80, 40, and 10 s, respectively). Response rates increased monotonically as a function of delivery rate. Responding for cocaine at the slowest delivery rate did not differ from saline. The effects of infusing additional cocaine (starting 30 min prior to the session) at this non-reinforcing rate (0.125 ml/min) were then determined. Delivery rate of the self-administered infusion was manipulated as before. Non-contingent cocaine significantly increased responding for cocaine (at the fastest delivery rate) and for saline. While non-contingent cocaine reduced responding for cocaine in two of the seven monkeys, it also significantly reduced responding in three monkeys that responded for food on the same schedule. Plasma levels of cocaine delivered at rates of 0.125 and 3 ml/min were compared in five other monkeys. While a higher peak was reached with the faster infusion, levels did not differ after 5 min. Thus, when an infusion became available (after the 5-min time-out) in the self-administration experiments, plasma levels should not have differed regardless of the delivery rate. These results suggest that a low-dose, slow-delivery treatment with cocaine might prime or reinstate drug seeking rather than decrease it. Received: 1 July 1997 / Final version: 4 January 1998     

Ethanol effects on self-administration of alfentanil, cocaine, and nomifensine in rhesus monkeys

 A common form of polydrug use is that of cocaine and ethanol. The identification of an ethanol-cocaine combination product, cocaethylene, with properties in common with cocaine, has led to speculation that this metabolite may contribute to the co-abuse of cocaine and ethanol. In order to determine whether ethanol pretreatments selectively altered cocaine’s reinforcing potency, ethanol pretreatments were given to monkeys trained to press levers and receive IV infusions of several doses of cocaine or alfentanil. In addition, nomifensine, a drug which has a mechanism of action similar to cocaine’s, was evaluated in the presence and absence of ethanol in monkeys with the cocaine baseline history. Ethanol, in doses ranging from 100 to 1780 mg/kg, given 10 min before the 130-min session, had no effect on responding maintained by alfentanil. These doses also had no significant effect on cocaine-maintained responding, although the potency of cocaine as a reinforcer was increased following administration of 1000 mg/kg ethanol in two of the four subjects. The potency of nomifensine as a reinforcer was significantly increased by 1000 mg/kg ethanol, but again, this enhancement was limited to the same two subjects. These data indicate that, in this paradigm, cocaethylene did not selectively modify cocaine’s reinforcing potency, but there appear to be individual differences with respect to ethanol’s ability to stimulate rates of drug-maintained responding. Received: 24 April 1996 / Final version: 7 November 1996     

Naltrexone effects on food- and codeine-maintained responding in rhesus monkeys

The delivery of food or the i.v. injection of codeine maintained lever pressing in rhesus monkeys during alternating periods of daily experimental sessions. Responding was maintained by food or codeine under a chain differential reinforcement of other behavior 30 sec (DRO 30), fixed-ratio 30 response (FR 30) schedule of reinforcement. Maximum FR rates of codeine-reinforced responding were maintained by 25–47 μg/kg per injection codeine. Both lower (8 μg/kg per injection) and higher (80–800 μg/kg per injection) doses of codeine maintained lower FR response rates. FR rates of food-maintained responding only decreased as a function of codeine dose. Response rates during the DRO component of the schedule, when either food or codeine maintained responding, were extremely low (<0.01 responses/sec) and these rates were generally unaffected by the codeine dose. Naltrexone (0.003–0.32 mg/kg i.m.), administered before experimental sessions, produced a dose-related shift to the right in the rate-decreasing effects of codeine on FR responding maintained by food. In contrast, the dose-effect curve relating the FR rate of codeine-maintained responding to codeine dose was shifted consistently to the right only by the lowest dose of naltrexone (0.003 mg/kg). Although a 10-fold higher dose of naltrexone, 0.03 mg/kg, initially shifted the codeine self-injection curve to the right in one monkey, these higher naltrexone doses (0.03–0.32 mg/kg) generally resulted in response rates as low as or lower than those maintained by saline,e across a wide range of codeine doses (25–800 μg/kg per injection). These data suggest that naltrexone may decrease codeine-reinforced responding by mechanisms other than, or in addition to, a competitive antagonism of codeine's reinforcing effects.     

Studies on benzodiazepines and opioids administered alone and in combination in rhesus monkeys: ventilation and drug discrimination

 Benzodiazepines and opioids are co-administered recreationally as well as clinically; in the current study, the ventilatory-depressant and discriminative stimulus effects of several benzodiazepines and opioids were examined alone and in combination in order to evaluate any interaction between agonists from these pharmacological classes. The benzodiazepines alprazolam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, midazolam and triazolam and the opioids morphine and fentanyl decreased ventilation (V_E) in monkeys breathing either air or 5% CO₂ in air, although decreases in ventilation produced by opioids were greater in magnitude than decreases produced by benzodiazepines. Flumazenil antagonized the ventilatory-depressant effects of flunitrazepam and triazolam and not those of fentanyl; naltrexone antagonized the ventilatory-depressant effects of fentanyl and not those of flunitrazepam or triazolam. Interactions between the ventilatory-depressant effects of agonists from the two classes were less than additive. In monkeys receiving 3.2 mg/kg per day of morphine and discriminating 0.01 mg/kg naltrexone, neither flunitrazepam nor triazolam substituted for naltrexone; in morphine-deprived monkeys, morphine, and not flunitrazepam or triazolam, reversed naltrexone-lever responding. Moreover, benzodiazepines did not modify the discriminative stimulus effects of naltrexone in morphine-treated monkeys or of morphine in morphine-deprived monkeys. In contrast to studies showing synergism between benzodiazepines and opioids, the current study suggests that, under some conditions, combinations of these drugs can be administered without enhancing the ventilatory-depressant effects of either class of drugs or the discriminative stimulus effects of opioids. Received: 2 June 1997 / Final version: 19 November 1997     

Self-administration of intravenous amphetamine: effect of nucleus accumbens CCKB receptor activation on fixed-ratio responding

Rationale: The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system is implicated in psychostimulant drug self-administration. The neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) is co-localised with DA and inhibits nucleus accumbens (NAcc) DAergic neurotransmission via CCK_B receptors. Objectives: The present experiment was designed to examine the effects of intra-NAcc CCK_B receptor stimulation on fixed-ratio (FR) amphetamine self-administration. Methods: Wistar rats with intravenous catheters and NAcc cannulae were trained to self-administer amphetamine under a FR3 schedule of reinforcement. Animals performing stable self-administration were microinjected with pentagastrin and assessed during 3-h sessions. Results: Intra-NAcc pentagastrin dose dependently increased amphetamine intake. Conclusions: These results are consistent with the notion that NAcc CCK_B receptor activation attenuates amphetamine reward. Received: 6 May 1999 / Final version: 4 August 1999     

Buprenorphine alters ethanol self-administration in rats: dose-response and time-dependent effects

 Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist derived from thebaine and has high affinity for μ and κ opioid receptors. The present study investigated dose-response (0.03, 0.15, 0.3, 3 mg/kg) and time-dependent effects of buprenorphine (1.5 or 4 h post-treatment) on EtOH self-administration in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats. Freely feeding and drinking rats were trained to initiate EtOH self-administration for 1 h daily using the ascending concentration procedure, wherein they were provided with increasing concentrations of EtOH at 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11% (v/v), respectively. Water was concurrently available with each concentration. Animals were maintained on a given concentration of EtOH for 5 days. By day 21, animals began their stabilization on the 11% regimen and remained on this concentration throughout the remainder of the study. EtOH and water consumption were recorded daily at both 10- and 60-min intervals. At 1.5 h post-buprenorphine, all test doses greatly suppressed both EtOH and water intake at the 10-min interval. At the 60-min interval, all but the lowest dose (0.03 mg/kg) significantly suppressed EtOH intake, while only the highest dose (3 mg/kg) suppressed water intake. In contrast to the suppressant profile observed at 1.5 h post-buprenorphine, at 4 h post-buprenorphine the lower doses (0.03 and 0.15 mg/kg) significantly increased EtOH intake while the higher doses (0.3 and 3 mg/kg) continued to suppress intake. None of the doses of buprenorphine altered water intake 4 h post-buprenorphine. The results support previous research demonstrating the utility of low doses of buprenorphine in suppressing behavior rewarded by a non-opioid drug. Received: 11 September 1997 / Final version: 21 February 1998     

The δ2-opioid receptor antagonist naltriben reduces motivated responding for ethanol

Rationale: Given that alcoholics drink for different reasons, it is not likely that a single pharmacotherapeutic agent will be equally effective for all alcoholics. Hence, the development of new pharmacotherapeutic agents that are capable of reducing alcohol intake remains an important focus in the field of alcohol research. Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of the δ₂ receptor antagonist naltriben (0.60–4.0 mg/kg) on operant responding maintained by the presentation of ethanol (EtOH) or saccharin in alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Methods: P rats were trained under a concurrent schedule [fixed ratio (FR)4–FR4] to press one lever for EtOH (10% v/v) and another for saccharin (0.0125–0.05% w/v) during a 60-min session. Naloxone, a non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, served as a reference antagonist. Results: When responding maintained by EtOH and saccharin were equated under baseline conditions, naloxone (0.003125–0.75 mg/kg) reduced levels of EtOH-maintained responding by 46–82%. None of the naloxone doses significantly reduced responding maintained by saccharin. Naltriben (0.9–4.0 mg/kg) reduced EtOH-maintained responding by 44–76%, while saccharin-maintained responding was reduced only by the highest dose of naltriben (4.0 mg/kg). Analysis of the EtOH within-session response pattern revealed that naloxone suppressed EtOH-maintained responding during the entire operant session and led to early termination of responding. Low doses of naltriben (0.90 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg) suppressed responding during the latter portion of the operant session, while higher doses (2.0, 3.0, 4.0 mg/kg) decreased responding during the entire session and led to early termination of responding. Conclusions: The results of the present study strengthen previous reports from our laboratory suggesting that naltriben, the selective δ₂ opioid receptor antagonist, suppresses EtOH self-administration in rats selectively bred for high EtOH consumption. The results also suggest that naltriben may be a potential candidate for use as a pharmacotherapeutic agent in the treatment of EtOH dependence. Received: 20 March 1999 / Final version: 2 June 1999     

The effects of dopaminergic agents on reaction time in rhesus monkeys

 Many CNS pathologies, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, as well as AIDS dementia complex, involve some degree of movement dysfunction. Reaction time (RT) performance has been shown to be a sensitive measure of motor function for these disorders. Useful models of RT performance exist in a variety of species, but few are performed in the same manner as with humans. To facilitate species comparisons, the present RT task was developed from a human RT task. Dopaminergic drugs were then used to characterize the sensitivity of the model to CNS changes and to investigate their effects on RT performance in intact rhesus monkeys. With cumulative dosing, the selective dopamine receptor antagonists (D₁) SCH 39166 and (D₂) raclopride produced dose-dependent slowing of RT performance. Results following bolus administration of these drugs were consistent with the cumulative dosing procedure, although of smaller magnitude and higher variability. Amphetamine had no significant effect on group RT performance with either dosing scheme, but RT performance in individual monkeys was either speeded or slowed by d-amphetamine. The present results suggest that blockade of either D₁-like or D₂-like dopamine receptors can slow RT performance in rhesus monkeys and that this paradigm may be useful to study movement dysfunction in non-human primates. Received: 19 May 1997 / Final version: 14 November 1997     

Reinforcing and discriminative stimulus effects of the neuroactive steroids pregnanolone and Co 8-7071 in rhesus monkeys

  Rationale and Objectives: The present study was designed to assess possible abuse-related effects of the endogenous neuroactive steroid pregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one) and the orally bioavailable, water-soluble neuroactive steroid pro-drug Co 8-7071 (3α,21-dihydroxy-3β-trifluoromethyl-5β-pregnan-20-one, 21-hemisuccinate). Methods: Four rhesus monkeys were prepared with chronic intravenous (IV) catheters and trained to press a lever under a ten-response fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of methohexital injection (0.1 mg/kg per injection). Three rhesus monkeys were trained to discriminate intragastric infusions of pentobarbital (10 mg/kg) from saline infusions under a FR5 schedule of stimulus-shock termination. Results: At least two doses of pregnanolone (0.003–0.1 mg/kg per injection) maintained injections per session above saline levels in the four monkeys tested, whereas Co 8-7071 (0.01–1.0 mg/kg per injection) maintained injections per session above saline levels in two of four monkeys at relatively low levels of injections per session. In rhesus monkeys trained to discriminate pentobarbital, IV pregnanolone injections (0.1–1.7 mg/kg, 5-min presession) dose-dependently reproduced the discriminative stimulus effects of pentobarbital in all monkeys tested. Intravenous administration of Co 8-7071 (1–10 mg/kg, 5-min presession) resulted in a dose-dependent increase to >80% pentobarbital-appropriate responding in two of three monkeys tested. Following intragastric infusions of Co 8-7071 (1.0–30 mg/kg), ≥80% pentobarbital-appropriate responding occurred in one out of three monkeys at 10 mg/kg when administered 60 min before the session. When administered 120 min before the session, however, 10–30 mg/kg Co 8-7071 reproduced the discriminative stimulus effects of pentobarbital in each of the three monkeys tested. Conclusions: These data demonstrate barbiturate-like abuse-related effects that differed between two pregnane steroids. Whereas pregnanolone functioned as a reinforcer, suggesting that this compound has abuse potential, Co 8-7071 did not, despite having pentobarbital-like discriminative effects. Received: 17 November 1998 / Final version: 22 January 1999     

Oral self-administration of ethanol, phencyclidine, methadone, pentobarbital and quinine in rhesus monkeys

Rationale: Simultaneous and sequential drug use among clinical populations is the norm, whereas the pattern of self-administration of multiple drugs among non-human primate populations has not been thoroughly explored. Objectives: To determine the relationship between the preferences and intakes of a large group of rhesus monkeys exposed to various orally available solutions. Methods: Thirteen male and eleven female young adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were exposed to orally available drug solutions using a concurrent choice (drug and water) procedure, where fluid delivery was made contingent upon single spout contacts (fixed ratio one). Results: Ethanol (0.25–16% w:v) produced biphasic effects on the number of fluid deliveries obtained, with peak ethanol preferences over water demonstrated at the 1–2% w:v concentrations. No preferences for the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist phencyclidine or water were demonstrated at lower concentrations (0.0078125–0.125 mg/ml) and, at higher concentrations (0.25, 0.5 mg/ml), a preference for water was demonstrated. The μ opioid receptor agonist methadone (0.001–0.3 mg/ml) and the prototypic bitter substance quinine (0.001–0.3 mg/ml) failed to produce preferences for drug or water. A large preference for water over the barbiturate pentobarbital (0.01–3 mg/ml) was also demonstrated. After rank-ordering the subjects based on their drug preferences or intakes, modest to no correlations across drugs were demonstrated. Conclusions: These results reveal that a robust ethanol preference is not predictive of a preference for drugs of abuse from other classes and suggests that fluid intakes were correlated, irrespective of the presence or absence of drug in the solution. Received: 6 October 1998 / Final version: 27 May 1999     

Clocinnamox antagonism of opioid suppression of schedule-controlled responding in rhesus monkeys

The antagonist effects of clocinnamox were evaluated against opioid agonists, acting at , and -receptors, in rhesus monkeys (n=3–4) responding under a fixed-ratio 30 (FR 30) schedule for food delivery. Clocinnamox (0.032–0.1 mg/kg) dose-dependently antagonized fentanyl (0.001–0.32 mg/kg) after either a 3-h or 1-day pretreatment; there was substantial recovery of agonist potency by 1 week after clocinnamox. Etonitazene (0.0001–0.01 mg/kg) was also antagonized by clocinnamox (0.1 mg/kg), but to a lesser extent than fentanyl. The smaller extent of antagonism was not due to the appearance of non -opioid response-decreasing effects of etonitazene, since the competitive antagonist quadazocine (0.1 mg/kg) shifted the etonitazene dose-effect curve in the presence of clocinnamox (0.1 mg/kg). Clocinnamox (0.1–0.32 mg/kg) did not antagonize the rate-suppressing effects of the -agonist BW373U86 (0.0.01-1.0 mg/kg) or the -agonist U69,593 (0.001–0.032 mg/kg). These results are consistent with previous in vivo and in vitro evidence that characterized clocinnamox as an insurmountable antagonist, with selectivity for -over - and -receptors.Animals used in these studies were maintained in accordance with the University Committees on the Use and Care of Animals, University of Michigan, and Guidelines of the Committee on the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Health Council (Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Publication No. (NIH) 85-23, revised 1983). Support for this research was provided by USPHS grant DA 00254.     

Discriminative stimulus effects of buprenorphine in the rat

 Buprenorphine, a potent ”low efficacy” or ”partial” morphine-like opioid agonist, has morphine-like discriminative effects in animals and humans discriminating morphine or a related drug. The purpose of the present study was to characterize further the discriminative effects of buprenorphine in subjects trained to discriminate buprenorphine itself. Rats trained to discriminate between SC injections of saline and either 0.03 or 0.1 mg/kg buprenorphine generalized completely to morphine and to other morphine-like agonists. These drugs were approximately 3 times more potent in the rats trained with 0.03 mg/kg buprenorphine than in those trained with 0.1 mg/kg; however, the potency of buprenorphine itself did not differ significantly between groups. Indicative of efficacy differences among mixed-action opioids, rats discriminating 0.03 mg/kg buprenorphine generalized completely to butorphanol and pentazocine and partially to nalbuphine, whereas those discriminating 0.1 mg/kg generalized completely to butorphanol, partially to pentazocine, and little to nalbuphine. Stimulus control of behavior by 0.1 mg/kg buprenorphine was blocked surmountably by low doses of antagonists, stereoselective, and pharmacologically selective. These results are consistent with those of other studies showing that the discriminative effects of buprenorphine are morphine-like and mediated by the mu-opioid receptor, and extend the conditions under which this has been demonstrated to stimulus control maintained by buprenorphine itself. Received: 18 September 1996 / Final version: 6 November 1996     

Acute toxicity of cyclohexylmethylphosphonofluoridate (CMPF) in rhesus monkeys: serum biochemical and hematologic changes

 Changes in serum biochemical and hematological parameters were studied in 20 male rhesus monkeys following acute poisoning by the organophosphate nerve agent cyclohexylmethylphosphonofluoridate (CMPF or GF). Animals were challenged with 5×LD50 GF (233 μg/kg, IM) following pretreatment with pyridostigmine (0.3–0.7 mg/kg per 24 h) and treated with atropine (0.4 mg/kg, IM) and either 2-PAM (25.7 mg/kg, IM) or HI6 (37.8 mg/kg, IM) at the onset of clinical signs or at 1 min after exposure. Muscle fasciculations, tremors, or convulsions occurred in 19 of 20 animals. Serum biochemical and hematologic parameters were analyzed 2 days and 7 days after exposure and compared to pre-exposure baseline values. Significant increases in creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and potassium ion (K⁺), associated with damage to striated muscle and metabolic acidosis, occurred in both oxime-treated groups 2 days after exposure. Total protein, albumin, red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct), were decreased in both oxime-treated groups at 7 days. The results demonstrate that animals exposed to a single high dose of GF and treated with standard therapy exhibit changes in serum biochemical and hematological indices directly and indirectly associated with their clinical presentations. Received: 15 November 1993 / Accepted: 29 August 1994     

Effects of caffeine on schedule-controlled responding in the rat

Six male Harlan/Wistar rats were trained to barpress under a F1300 sec schedule of food presentation until responding was stable. Caffeine (6.0 and 12.0 mg/kg, IP) increased overall response output significantly during the first half-hour after administration; 24.0 mg/kg decreased output significantly during the third and fourth half-hour. The drug also decreased quarter-life values. Rate-dependency analyses indicated that the effect was partially rate-dependent, but intermediate control rates were enhanced relatively more by caffeine than the lowest control rates.     

Effects of dopamine D1-like and D2-like agonists on cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys: rapid assessment of cocaine dose-effect functions

Rationale: The reinforcing effects of cocaine have been most compellingly related to its action as an indirect dopamine agonist. Although it is generally believed that both D_1-like and D_2-like receptor mechanisms may be involved, recent studies suggest that D_1-like and D_2-like agonists have differing profiles of cocaine-related actions. Objective: To develop a procedure for rapid assessment of complete dose–effect functions for cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys and to compare the effects of D_1-like and D_2-like agonists on cocaine self-administration using this procedure. Methods: Responding was maintained by various doses of cocaine or by food under a multiple-component schedule [fixed ratio (FR) 30; time out period (TO) 10 s] in 2-h sessions. After responding stabilized, the effects of pretreatment with D_1-like and D_2-like agonists (administered i.m., 10 min or 30 min prior to the session) were assessed. Results: Complete inverted U-shaped dose–effect functions for cocaine self-administration were obtained in all five rhesus monkeys trained with the rapid assessment procedure. Both the position and shape of the cocaine dose– effect function remained stable in repeated assessments, and levels of responding were controlled by the unit dose of cocaine rather than by other variables (e.g., infusion duration and volume) that were used to vary the cocaine dose. Pretreatment with the D_1-like agonists SKF 82958 (0.32–1.8 mg/kg) and R-6-Br-APB (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) produced downward shifts in the cocaine dose–effect function at doses that also markedly decreased food-maintained responding. In contrast, pretreatment with the D_2-like agonists quinelorane (0.001–0.01 mg/kg) and 7-OH-DPAT (0.01–0.10 mg/kg) shifted the cocaine dose–effect function to the left. D_2-like agonists also increased responding maintained by the cocaine-associated cue lights alone, and moderately decreased food-maintained responding. Conclusions: The results suggest that D_1-like and D_2-like agonists produce qualitatively different effects on cocaine self-administration that may influence their usefulness for the treatment of cocaine abuse and dependence. Received: 20 March 1999 / Final version: 10 August 1999