scholarly journals Assessment of the Reinforcing Properties of Orally Administered MDMA ('Ecstasy') in Rats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lincoln S. Hely
Keyword(s):  
Oral Administration ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Demand Curve ◽  
Subcutaneous Administration ◽  
Route Of Administration ◽  
Schedules Of Reinforcement ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Reinforcing Efficacy ◽  
Reinforcing Effects

<p>The so-called “party drug” 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or ecstasy) may share many of the addictive properties common to other CNS stimulants. In humans MDMA is primarily consumed orally in one more pills per session. However, animal research has mostly focused on examining the effects of MDMA as a function of other routes of administration. Route of administration can have profound effects on the subjective and reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. This thesis assessed the locomotor-activating and reinforcing properties of MDMA when delivered orally. MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion was used to examine magnitude of response and onset of action as a function of ip, sc and oral administration. Significant route-dependant effects were found with ip producing higher locomotor activity than sc and oral respectively. Onset of action was slower for subcutaneous administration compared with both ip and oral administration. The reinforcing properties of MDMA were examined by use of the self-administration procedure. Oral MDMA self-administration was firstly examined using simple schedules of reinforcement as a function of two different vehicle substrates, water (under water deprivation) and saccharin. Oral MDMA maintained responding and reliable dose-response curves were obtained under both water and saccharin vehicle conditions. However, both saccharin and water vehicle conditions also acted as strong reinforcers in these studies. Further studies utilising a behavioural economic approach were conducted in order to delineate the reinforcing effects of MDMA from that of its parent vehicle. In addition, demand-curve analysis using both the Linear-Elasticity model (Hursh et al., 1988, 1989) and the Exponential Model of Demand (Hursh & Silberberg, 2008) were compared in order to evaluate each model and assess the relative reinforcing efficacy of oral MDMA. Demand curves for the oral self-administration of MDMA revealed that responding for MDMA was more elastic (lower Pmax) than responding for saccharin-alone indicating that saccharin functioned as stronger reinforcer than did MDMA+saccharin. The results of these studies provide evidence for the positive-reinforcing effects of MDMA when it is delivered via the oral route of administration, however, the relative reinforcing efficacy of orally delivered MDMA appears to be low.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of the Reinforcing Properties of Orally Administered MDMA ('Ecstasy') in Rats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lincoln S. Hely
Keyword(s):  
Oral Administration ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Demand Curve ◽  
Subcutaneous Administration ◽  
Route Of Administration ◽  
Schedules Of Reinforcement ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Reinforcing Efficacy ◽  
Reinforcing Effects

<p>The so-called “party drug” 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or ecstasy) may share many of the addictive properties common to other CNS stimulants. In humans MDMA is primarily consumed orally in one more pills per session. However, animal research has mostly focused on examining the effects of MDMA as a function of other routes of administration. Route of administration can have profound effects on the subjective and reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. This thesis assessed the locomotor-activating and reinforcing properties of MDMA when delivered orally. MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion was used to examine magnitude of response and onset of action as a function of ip, sc and oral administration. Significant route-dependant effects were found with ip producing higher locomotor activity than sc and oral respectively. Onset of action was slower for subcutaneous administration compared with both ip and oral administration. The reinforcing properties of MDMA were examined by use of the self-administration procedure. Oral MDMA self-administration was firstly examined using simple schedules of reinforcement as a function of two different vehicle substrates, water (under water deprivation) and saccharin. Oral MDMA maintained responding and reliable dose-response curves were obtained under both water and saccharin vehicle conditions. However, both saccharin and water vehicle conditions also acted as strong reinforcers in these studies. Further studies utilising a behavioural economic approach were conducted in order to delineate the reinforcing effects of MDMA from that of its parent vehicle. In addition, demand-curve analysis using both the Linear-Elasticity model (Hursh et al., 1988, 1989) and the Exponential Model of Demand (Hursh & Silberberg, 2008) were compared in order to evaluate each model and assess the relative reinforcing efficacy of oral MDMA. Demand curves for the oral self-administration of MDMA revealed that responding for MDMA was more elastic (lower Pmax) than responding for saccharin-alone indicating that saccharin functioned as stronger reinforcer than did MDMA+saccharin. The results of these studies provide evidence for the positive-reinforcing effects of MDMA when it is delivered via the oral route of administration, however, the relative reinforcing efficacy of orally delivered MDMA appears to be low.</p>

scholarly journals The Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of the GABAB Receptor, KK-92A, Suppresses Alcohol Self-Administration and Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Alcohol Seeking in Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Maccioni ◽  
Katarzyna Kaczanowska ◽  
Harshani Lawrence ◽  
Sang Yun ◽  
Jessica Bratzu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Gabab Receptor ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Progressive Ratio ◽  
Spontaneous Locomotor Activity ◽  
Schedules Of Reinforcement ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Motivated Behaviors ◽  
Alcohol Seeking

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAMs) are of interest in the addiction field due to their ability to suppress several behaviors motivated by drugs of abuse. KK-92A is a novel GABAB PAM found to attenuate intravenous self-administration of nicotine and reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats. This present study was aimed at extending to alcohol the anti-addictive properties of KK-92A. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats were trained to lever-respond for oral alcohol (15% v/v) or sucrose (0.7% w/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 5 (FR5) schedule of reinforcement. Once lever-responding behavior had stabilized, rats were exposed to tests with acutely administered KK-92A under FR5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement and cue-induced reinstatement of previously extinguished alcohol seeking. KK-92A effect on spontaneous locomotor activity was also evaluated. Treatment with 10 and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed lever-responding for alcohol, amount of self-administered alcohol, and breakpoint for alcohol. Treatment with 20 mg/kg KK-92A reduced sucrose self-administration. Combination of per se ineffective doses of KK-92A (2.5 mg/kg) and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (1 mg/kg), reduced alcohol self-administration. Treatment with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg KK-92A suppressed reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Only treatment with 80 mg/kg KK-92A affected spontaneous locomotor activity. These results demonstrate the ability of KK-92A to inhibit alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents and confirm that these effects are common to the entire class of GABAB PAMs. The remarkable efficacy of KK-92A is discussed in terms of its ago-allosteric properties.

Letter to the Editor

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-696
Author(s):  
Richard J. Scarfone
Keyword(s):  
Oral Administration ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Acute Asthma ◽  
Route Of Administration ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
Hospitalization Rates ◽  
Letter To The Editor

We appreciate the comments of Drs Perry and Allison. As they pointed out, the oral administration of prednisone, unlike corticosteroids given intramuscularly or intravenously, is not likely to exacerbate the respiratory distress and hypoxemia of an acutely wheezing child. We would like to emphasize that corticosteroids, regardless of the route of administration, have a delayed onset of action in acute asthma. In our study, had decisions regarding hospitalization been made after 2 hours of care, the hospitalization rates of the prednisone and placebo groups would have been about the same.

scholarly journals Anticoagulation Treatment in Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: Assessment of Patient Preferences Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (COSIMO Study)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Picker ◽  
Agnes Y. Lee ◽  
Alexander T. Cohen ◽  
Anthony Maraveyas ◽  
Jan Beyer-Westendorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Oral Administration ◽  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Patient Preferences ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Route Of Administration

Abstract Introduction Clinical guidelines recommend anticoagulation therapy for the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), but little is known about preferences. Therefore, the objective of this discrete choice experiment (DCE) was to elucidate patient preferences regarding anticoagulation convenience attributes. Methods Adult patients with cancer-associated VTE who switched to direct oral anticoagulants were included in a single-arm study (COSIMO). Patients were asked to decide between hypothetical treatment options based on a combination of the following attributes: route of administration (injection/tablet), frequency of intake (once/twice daily), need for regular controls of the international normalized ratio (INR) at least every 3 to 4 weeks (yes/no), interactions with food/alcohol (yes/no), and distance to treating physician (1 vs. 20 km) as an additional neutral attribute. DCE data were collected by structured telephone interviews and analyzed based on a conditional logit regression. Results Overall, 163 patients (mean age 63.7 years, 49.1% female) were included. They strongly preferred oral administration compared with self-injections (importance of this attribute for overall treatment decisions: 73.8%), and a treatment without dietary restrictions (11.8%). Even if these attributes were less important (7.2% and 6.5%, respectively), patients indicated a preference for a shorter distance to the treating physician and once-daily dosing compared with twice-daily intake. “Need for regular controls of INR at least every 3 to 4 weeks” showed no significant impact on the treatment decision (0.7%). Conclusion This study showed that treatment-related decision making in cancer-associated VTE, assuming comparable effectiveness and safety of anticoagulant treatments, is predominantly driven by “route of administration,” with patients strongly preferring oral administration.

scholarly journals Immunosuppressive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Nicotine Administered by Patch in an Animal Model

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roma Kalra ◽  
Shashi P. Singh ◽  
Juan C. Pena-Philippides ◽  
Raymond J. Langley ◽  
Seddigheh Razani-Boroujerdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Nicotine Patch ◽  
Subcutaneous Administration ◽  
Spleen Cells ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Nicotine Administration ◽  
Nicotine Patches ◽  
Immunological Effects

ABSTRACT To study the immunological effects of nicotine, there are several rodent models for chronic nicotine administration. These models include subcutaneously implanted miniosmotic pumps, nicotine-spiked drinking water, and self-administration via jugular cannulae. Administration of nicotine via these routes affects the immune system. Smokers frequently use nicotine patches to quit smoking, and the immunological effects of nicotine patches are largely unknown. To determine whether the nicotine patch affects the immune system, nicotine patches were affixed daily onto the backs of Lewis rats for 3 to 4 weeks. The patches efficiently raised the levels of nicotine and cotinine in serum and strongly inhibited the antibody-forming cell response of spleen cells to sheep red blood cells. The nicotine patch also suppressed the concanavalin A-induced T-cell proliferation and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ by spleen cells, as well as the fever response of animals to subcutaneous administration of turpentine. Moreover, immunosuppression was associated with chronic activation of protein tyrosine kinase and phospholipase C-γ1 activities. Thus, in this animal model of nicotine administration, the nicotine patch efficiently raises the levels of nicotine and cotinine in serum and impairs both the immune and inflammatory responses.

scholarly journals Effects of adolescent caffeine consumption on cocaine self-administration and reinstatement of cocaine seeking

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-144
Author(s):  
Tracey A Larson ◽  
Casey E O’Neill ◽  
Michaela P Palumbo ◽  
Ryan K Bachtell
Keyword(s):  
Dose Response ◽  
Extinction Training ◽  
Schedules Of Reinforcement ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Cocaine Seeking ◽  
Administration Procedure

Background: Caffeine consumption by children and adolescents has risen dramatically in recent years, yet the lasting effects of caffeine consumption during adolescence remain poorly understood. Aim: These experiments explore the effects of adolescent caffeine consumption on cocaine self-administration and seeking using a rodent model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats consumed caffeine for 28 days during the adolescent period. Following the caffeine consumption period, the caffeine solution was replaced with water for the remainder of the experiment. Age-matched control rats received water for the duration of the study. Behavioral testing in a cocaine self-administration procedure occurred during adulthood (postnatal days 62–82) to evaluate how adolescent caffeine exposure influenced the reinforcing properties of cocaine. Cocaine seeking was also tested during extinction training and reinstatement tests following cocaine self-administration. Results: Adolescent caffeine consumption increased the acquisition of cocaine self-administration and increased performance on different schedules of reinforcement. Consumption of caffeine in adult rats did not produce similar enhancements in cocaine self-administration. Adolescent caffeine consumption also produced an upward shift in the U-shaped dose response curve on cocaine self-administration maintained on a within-session dose-response procedure. Adolescent caffeine consumption had no effect on cocaine seeking during extinction training or reinstatement of cocaine seeking by cues or cocaine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that caffeine consumption during adolescence may enhance the reinforcing properties of cocaine, leading to enhanced acquisition that may contribute to increased addiction vulnerability.

scholarly journals Impact of Morphine Dependence and Withdrawal on the Reinforcing Effectiveness of Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine in Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Seaman Jr ◽  
Gregory T. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Opioid Dependence ◽  
Progressive Ratio ◽  
Morphine Dependence ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Stimulant Use ◽  
Concurrent Use ◽  
Reinforcing Effects ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Recent estimates suggest increased popularity of the concurrent use of opioids and stimulants, with over 50% of treatment-seeking opioid users reporting regular stimulant use. The goal of the current study was to determine how opioid dependence and withdrawal affect the reinforcing effects of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to self-administer fentanyl under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. Baseline evaluations of reinforcing effectiveness of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine were determined. Opioid dependence was then established by administering escalating doses of morphine (10–40 mg/kg) twice-daily for four days and subsequently maintained by once-daily injections of 40 mg/kg morphine. To evaluate the impact of opioid dependence and withdrawal on the self-administration of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, sessions occurred either 12 or 20 h after the morphine, respectively. During opioid withdrawal, the fentanyl dose-response curve was shifted rightward with an increase in maximal effectiveness, whereas it was shifted rightward with a reduction in maximal effectiveness when evaluated in rats currently dependent on opioids, relative to baseline. The reinforcing effects of cocaine and methamphetamine were unchanged by either condition. The current studies provide direct evidence that the reinforcing effects of fentanyl are increased in opioid-withdrawn rats and reduced in opioid-dependent rats, relative to rats that are not physically dependent on opioids. These findings suggest that motivations to use opioids are dependent on the state of the individual whereas stimulants retain their reinforcing effects regardless of whether the individual is in an opioid-dependent or withdrawn state.

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