The effects of amfonelic acid alone and in combination with naloxone on brain-stimulation reward. 1989

C M Knapp, and C Kornetsky
Laboratory of Behavioral Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118.

Thresholds for rewarding brain stimulation delivered to the medial forebrain bundle-lateral hypothalamus were determined by means of a rate-free psychophysical method. Amfonelic acid (AFA), an indirect dopamine agonist, alone caused a significant dose-dependent lowering of the rewarding threshold. Although naloxone treatment by itself did not significantly alter the reward threshold, it blocked AFA's threshold lowering effect in every animal at one or more of the dose combinations of the two drugs tested. Naloxone was found to be more effective in blocking the threshold lowering actions of a higher (1 mg/kg) dose as opposed to a lower (0.25 mg/kg) dose of AFA. Since a lowering of threshold for rewarding intracranial stimulation is a model for drug-induced euphoria, the findings presented here indicate that AFA may have abuse potential. Furthermore, these results suggest that endogenous opioid systems may begin to modulate the effects of AFA on the reward system only when a certain level of activation of dopaminergic systems is reached.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009268 Nalidixic Acid A synthetic 1,8-naphthyridine antimicrobial agent with a limited bacteriocidal spectrum. It is an inhibitor of the A subunit of bacterial DNA GYRASE. Nalidixin,Nalidixate Sodium,Nalidixate Sodium Anhydrous,Nevigramon,Sodium Nalidixic Acid, Anhydrous,Sodium Nalidixic Acid, Monohydrate,Acid, Nalidixic,Anhydrous, Nalidixate Sodium,Sodium Anhydrous, Nalidixate,Sodium, Nalidixate
D009270 Naloxone A specific opiate antagonist that has no agonist activity. It is a competitive antagonist at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. MRZ 2593-Br,MRZ-2593,Nalone,Naloxon Curamed,Naloxon-Ratiopharm,Naloxone Abello,Naloxone Hydrobromide,Naloxone Hydrochloride,Naloxone Hydrochloride Dihydride,Naloxone Hydrochloride, (5 beta,9 alpha,13 alpha,14 alpha)-Isomer,Naloxone, (5 beta,9 alpha,13 alpha,14 alpha)-Isomer,Narcan,Narcanti,Abello, Naloxone,Curamed, Naloxon,Dihydride, Naloxone Hydrochloride,Hydrobromide, Naloxone,Hydrochloride Dihydride, Naloxone,Hydrochloride, Naloxone,MRZ 2593,MRZ 2593 Br,MRZ 2593Br,MRZ2593,Naloxon Ratiopharm
D009287 Naphthyridines A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a NAPHTHALENES double ring in which two carbon atoms, one per each ring, are replaced with nitrogens.
D011916 Rats, Inbred F344 An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes. Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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