Determination of the place conditioning and locomotor effects of amperozide in rats: a comparison with cocaine

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Aug;8(3):434-43. doi: 10.1037//1064-1297.8.3.434.

Abstract

Amperozide promotes social interactions in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and reduces craving for cocaine and alcohol without producing adverse side effects. Amperozide administration produced a place preference in the dose range from 3.0 to 10.0 mg/kg. Locomotor behavior tended to be suppressed on the days of amperozide pairings, elevated on the days of vehicle pairings, and elevated on test days. Administration of 20.0 mg/kg but neither 2.0 nor 0.2 mg/kg cocaine produced place preference. Rats exhibited a greater place preference for the chamber paired with 2.0 mg/kg and 20.0 mg/kg but not 0.2 mg/kg cocaine compared to the chamber paired with 5.0 mg/kg amperozide. The results indicate that amperozide is appetitive. The most appetitive dose of amperozide (5.0 mg/kg) is less appetitive than the most appetitive dose of cocaine (20.0 mg/kg). More research is needed before conclusions regarding the degree of abuse potential for amperozide can be made.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Serotonin Antagonists / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • amperozide
  • Cocaine