Skip to main content
Log in

Sensitization to systemic amphetamine produces an enhanced locomotor response to a subsequent intra-accumbens amphetamine challenge in rats

  • Rapid Communications
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Repeated amphetamine (AMPH) administration into the nucleus accumbens does not enhance (sensitize) the locomotor activity produced by a subsequent systemic AMPH challenge. We report here, however, that pretreatment with systemic injections of AMPH does produce a significant enhancement in the locomotor stimulant effects produced by intra-accumbens AMPH given 21 days after the last pretreatment injection of AMPH. These data support the hypothesis that neural adaptations in dopamine (DA) terminal fields are sufficient for theexpression of AMPH sensitization, although an action on DA cell bodies may be required for theinduction of AMPH sensitization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Carr GD, White NM (1987) Effects of systemic and intracranial amphetamine injections on behavior in the open field: a detailed analysis. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 27:113–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Dougherty GG, Ellinwood EH (1981) Chronicd-amphetamine in nucleus accumbens: lack of tolerance or reverse tolerance of locomotor activity. Life Sci 28:2295–2298

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalivas PW, Weber B (1988) Amphetamine injection into the ventral mesencephalon sensitizes rats to peripheral amphetamine and cocaine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 245:1095–1102

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolta MG, Shreve P, Uretsky NJ (1989) Effect of pretreatment with amphetamine on the interaction between amphetamine and dopamine neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Neuropharmacology 28:9–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebec GV, Segal DS (1979) Enhanced responsiveness to intraventricular infusion of amphetamine following its repeated systemic administration. Psychopharmacology 62:101–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson TE (1991) The neurobiology of amphetamine psychosis: evidence from studies with an animal model. In: Nakazawa T, (ed) Taniguchi Symposia on Brain Sciences, Vol. 14, Biological Basis of Schizophrenic Disorders (in press)

  • Robinson TE, Becker JB (1982) Behavioral sensitization is accompanied by an enhancement in amphetamine-stimulated dopamine release from striatal tissue in vitro. Eur J Pharmacol 85:253–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson TE, Becker JB (1986) Enduring changes in brain and behavior produced by chronic amphetamine administration: a review and evaluation of animal models of amphetamine psychosis. Brain Res Rev 396:157–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson TE, Camp DM (1987) Long-lasting effects of escalating doses ofd-amphetamine on brain monoamines, amphetamine-induced stereotyped behavior and spontaneous nocturnal locomotion. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 26:821–827

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart J, Vezina P (1989) Microinjections of Sch-23390 into the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars reticulata attenuate the development of sensitization to the locomotor activating effects of systemic amphetamine. Brain Res 495:401–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Vezina P, Stewart J (1990) Amphetamine administered to the ventral tegmental area but not to the nucleus accumbens sensitizes rats to systemic morphine: lack of conditioned effects. Brain Res 516:99–106

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paulson, P.E., Robinson, T.E. Sensitization to systemic amphetamine produces an enhanced locomotor response to a subsequent intra-accumbens amphetamine challenge in rats. Psychopharmacology 104, 140–141 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244569

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244569

Key words

Navigation