Research article summary (published 30 Dec 1983):

Effects of drug-induced differences in reinforcement frequency on discriminative stimulus properties of fentanyl.

Full Abstract

Rats were trained to discriminate between fentanyl (0.04 mg/kg) and saline in a two-lever procedure. Using a FR 10 schedule of food reinforcement, drug-induced differences between the number of reinforcers obtained under fentanyl and saline conditions were observed. The effect of eliminating these differences on the outcome of generalization tests was investigated by different manipulations. In one group (N = 10), the FR 10 schedule used during saline sessions was changed to FR 6 during drug sessions. In a second group (N = 12), saline sessions ended after the number of reinforcers obtained was equal to the number obtained during the preceding drug session. A control group (N = 10) was trained using a FR 10 schedule under both conditions. Elimination of differences in reinforcement frequency accelerated the acquisition of the discrimination, diminished response bias, flattened the slope and reduced the ED50 value of generalization gradients of fentanyl, morphine and sufentanil and increased the ED50 value of naloxone in antagonizing 0.04 mg/kg fentanyl. It is concluded that the unconditioned effects of 0.04 mg/kg fentanyl on response rate in a FR 10 procedure lead to differences between saline and drug sessions which contribute to the apparent discriminative stimulus properties of fentanyl.

Author information

Author/s: De Vry, J (J); Koek, W (W); Slangen, J L (JL);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychopharmacology (Psychopharmacology (Berl)), published in GERMANY, WEST. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1984-; vol 83 (issue 3) : pp 257-61

Dates: Created 1984/10/25; Completed 1984/10/25; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 6433387, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Conditioning, Operant - drug effects Discrimination (Psychology) - drug effects Discrimination Learning - drug effects Fentanyl - pharmacology

Generalization, Stimulus - drug effects Male Rats Rats, Inbred Strains Reinforcement Schedule

Associated Chemicals: Fentanyl (437-38-7)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Characteristics of sound discrimination enhancement after sound exposure in adult rats. 30 Jul 2005
• Influencing the specificity of drug mixture discriminations by varying the training procedure. 30 Oct 1999
• Generalization to atypical antipsychotic drugs depends on training dose in rats trained to discriminate 1.25 mg/kg clozapine versus 5.0 mg/kg clozapine versus vehicle in a three-choice drug discrimination task. 30 Oct 2005
• Influence of training history on ethanol discrimination in rats. 30 Oct 2000
• D-amphetamine-like stimulus properties are produced by morphine injections into the ventral tegmental area but not into the nucleus accumbens. 29 Dec 1993
• Discriminative stimulus properties of 7-OH-DPAT, a dopamine D3-selective receptor ligand. 30 May 1994
• Stimulus properties of some analogues of 4-methylaminorex. 30 May 1995
• Effect of learned behavior upon conditioned place preference to cathinone. 30 Dec 1990
• Defeat engenders pentylenetetrazole-appropriate responding in rats: antagonism by midazolam. 29 Nov 1994
• Performance of four different rat strains in the autoshaping, two-object discrimination, and swim maze tests of learning and memory. 30 Mar 1995

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.