Biomaterial Database

Cocaine behavioral sensitization and the excitatory amino acids. 1994

R Karler, and L D Calder, and J B Bedingfield

Department of Pharmacology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.

Studies were conducted to identify neuroeffector systems involved in behavioral sensitization to cocaine-induced stereotypy in mice, and to compare the results with those from our previous amphetamine studies. The effects of eight relatively selective neuroeffector agonists and antagonists were measured in mice in order to identify specific functional changes associated with the sensitization. In contrast to amphetamine, the only neuroeffector response altered by cocaine sensitization was a decrease in convulsive threshold to kainate. The persistence of the change in convulsive threshold correlated with the persistence of behavioral sensitization. The induction of sensitization was blocked by pretreatment with four different classes of drugs, represented by haloperidol, dizocilpine, diltiazem and DNQX. These results suggest that the mechanism of induction to cocaine is similar to that of amphetamine; both the glutamate and dopaminergic systems appear to be involved in induction. The expression of the sensitized cocaine response was blocked by haloperidol, CPP and diltiazem. These results differed from those obtained previously insofar as CPP did not affect the expression of sensitization to amphetamine. Furthermore, DNQX, in contrast to its antagonism of the expression of amphetamine sensitization, did not affect the expression of cocaine sensitization. The pharmacological data suggest that the mechanism of induction differs from that of expression, and that the mechanism of expression for cocaine sensitization differs from that for amphetamine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009451	Neuroeffector Junction	The synapse between a neuron (presynaptic) and an effector cell other than another neuron (postsynaptic). Neuroeffector junctions include synapses onto muscles and onto secretory cells.	Junction, Neuroeffector,Junctions, Neuroeffector,Neuroeffector Junctions
D011963	Receptors, GABA-A	Cell surface proteins which bind GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID and contain an integral membrane chloride channel. Each receptor is assembled as a pentamer from a pool of at least 19 different possible subunits. The receptors belong to a superfamily that share a common CYSTEINE loop.	Benzodiazepine-Gaba Receptors,GABA-A Receptors,Receptors, Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptors, Diazepam,Receptors, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Muscimol,Benzodiazepine Receptor,Benzodiazepine Receptors,Benzodiazepine-GABA Receptor,Diazepam Receptor,Diazepam Receptors,GABA(A) Receptor,GABA-A Receptor,GABA-A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA-A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA-A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA-A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptors,Muscimol Receptor,Muscimol Receptors,delta Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors,Benzodiazepine GABA Receptor,Benzodiazepine Gaba Receptors,GABA A Receptor,GABA A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA A Receptors,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptors,Receptor, Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptor, Diazepam,Receptor, GABA-A,Receptor, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Muscimol,Receptors, Benzodiazepine GABA,Receptors, GABA A,Receptors, GABA Benzodiazepine,delta Subunit, GABA A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA A Receptor,gamma Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors
D003042	Cocaine	An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake.	Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D004298	Dopamine	One of the catecholamine NEUROTRANSMITTERS in the brain. It is derived from TYROSINE and is the precursor to NOREPINEPHRINE and EPINEPHRINE. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of receptors (RECEPTORS, DOPAMINE) mediate its action.	Hydroxytyramine,3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine,4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Dopamine Hydrochloride,Intropin,3,4 Dihydroxyphenethylamine,Hydrochloride, Dopamine
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
D006220	Haloperidol	A phenyl-piperidinyl-butyrophenone that is used primarily to treat SCHIZOPHRENIA and other PSYCHOSES. It is also used in schizoaffective disorder, DELUSIONAL DISORDERS, ballism, and TOURETTE SYNDROME (a drug of choice) and occasionally as adjunctive therapy in INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY and the chorea of HUNTINGTON DISEASE. It is a potent antiemetic and is used in the treatment of intractable HICCUPS. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p279)	Haldol
D000661	Amphetamine	A powerful central nervous system stimulant and sympathomimetic. Amphetamine has multiple mechanisms of action including blocking uptake of adrenergics and dopamine, stimulation of release of monamines, and inhibiting monoamine oxidase. Amphetamine is also a drug of abuse and a psychotomimetic. The l- and the d,l-forms are included here. The l-form has less central nervous system activity but stronger cardiovascular effects. The d-form is DEXTROAMPHETAMINE.	Desoxynorephedrin,Levoamphetamine,Phenopromin,l-Amphetamine,Amfetamine,Amphetamine Sulfate,Amphetamine Sulfate (2:1),Centramina,Fenamine,Mydrial,Phenamine,Thyramine,levo-Amphetamine,Sulfate, Amphetamine,l Amphetamine,levo Amphetamine
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
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors