Potential serotonin 5-HT(1A) and dopamine D(4) receptor modulation of the discriminative stimulus effects of amphetamine in rats

Behav Pharmacol. 2011 Sep;22(5-6):508-15. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e328349fc31.

Abstract

Activation of the dopaminergic system underlies the behavioral effects of (+)-amphetamine, and plays a major role in its discriminative stimulus properties. Although serotonin receptors modulate dopamine levels in the brain, and 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2) receptor agonists do not mimic (+)-amphetamine, pretreatment with 5-HT(2A/2C) agonists significantly potentiates the (+)-amphetamine cue. Further, 5-HT(2) antagonists do not modify the discriminative stimulus effect of (+)-amphetamine, but 5-HT(1A) antagonists have never been tested in (+)-amphetamine-trained rats. This study sought to characterize the effects of the 5-HT(1A) antagonist WAY 100635 on (+)-amphetamine-induced discriminative stimulus effects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in a two-lever, fixed ratio 50, food-reinforced task with (+)-amphetamine sulfate (1.0 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min pretreatment time) as the discriminative stimulus. Substitution and combination tests with WAY 100635 were then performed. WAY 100635 did not produce substitution in amphetamine-trained rats, but significantly increased behavioral disruption. In combination tests 0.4 and 5.4 mg/kg doses of WAY 100635 potentiated the amphetamine cue. We suggest that low doses of WAY 100635 potentiated the (+)-amphetamine cue by blockade of 5-HT(1A) receptors, but stimulation of the dopamine D(4) receptor by higher doses of WAY 100635 may be responsible for potentiation of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization. The high percentage of behavioral disruption in substitution tests might suggest that rats trained to discriminate (+)-amphetamine from saline show behavioral sensitization that is not detectable by the drug discrimination assay but may be expressed as hyperactivity and stereotypic behavior that disrupts operant behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects*
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Male
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / administration & dosage
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / drug effects
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / metabolism
  • Reinforcement Schedule
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • Piperazines
  • Pyridines
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4
  • N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide
  • Amphetamine