Lobeline attenuates progressive ratio breakpoint scores for intracranial self-stimulation in rats.

Full Abstract

The alkaloid lobeline inhibits the function of vesicular monoamine and dopamine transporters and diminishes the behavioral and neurochemical effects of nicotine and amphetamines. In the present study, we examined the interaction of systemic administration of lobeline on breakpoint scores on a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Rats were run in two 30 min sessions, separated by a 10 min timeout period. At the end of the first session, each rat was injected with either 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg (i.p.) lobeline. Positive controls known to suppress and to augment ICSS responding included the adrenergic antagonist prazosin (0, 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and the psychostimulant cocaine (0, 1.25, and 5.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Analyses of changes in average PR breakpoint scores between the 2 sessions revealed that lobeline significantly suppressed PR scores at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, as did 0.5 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg prazosin. These changes are unlikely to reflect motoric effects of these drugs inasmuch as neither lobeline nor prazosin alter locomotion at these doses. In contrast, PR breakpoint scores were significantly increased at 5.0 mg/kg cocaine, a dose that is sufficient to elevate locomotion in the rat. These results are consistent with the view that lobeline modulates brain reinforcement processes.

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Author information

Author/s: Wellman, Paul J (PJ); Elliott, Audrea E (AE); Barbee, Stephanie (S); Hollas, Chelsie N (CN); Clifford, P Shane (PS); Nation, Jack R (JR);

Affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4235, USA. pjw(-atsign-)psyc.tamu.edu

Grants: R21 DA017230-01 (Agency:United States NIDA)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Physiology & behavior (Physiol Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Mar; vol 93 (issue 4-5) : pp 952-7

Dates: Created 2008/03/18; Completed 2008/07/31;

PMID: 18272188, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists - administration & dosage
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Cocaine - administration & dosage
Conditioning, Operant - drug effects
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - administration & dosage
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Lobeline - administration & dosage

Lobeline - administration & dosage
Male
Medial Forebrain Bundle - drug effects
Nicotinic Agonists - administration & dosage
Prazosin - administration & dosage
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reinforcement Schedule
Self Administration

Associated Chemicals: Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists (0) ; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors (0) ; Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Prazosin (19216-56-9) ; Cocaine (50-36-2) ; Lobeline (90-69-7)

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