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Lack of cross-sensitization between the locomotor-activating effects of bromocriptine and those of cocaine or heroin

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Abstract

Rats were given daily injections of bromocriptine (5.0 mg/kg IP) or vehicle either in the home cage or in a test box equipped with photocells to measure locomotion. The animals were then tested in the photocell boxes for their locomotor response to cocaine (10.0 mg/kg IP), heroin (0.5 mg/kg IP), or quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg IP). Repeated bromocriptine in the test box but not in the home cage caused progressive increases in sensitivity to the locomotor-stimulating effects of bromocriptine and increases in the subsequent sensitivity to quinpirole but caused only trivial signs of cross-sensitization to cocaine or heroin. Cross-sensitization to quinpirole was temporary; responsiveness to quinpirole decreased with further quinpirole injections. Lack of significant cross-sensitization between bromocriptine and either cocaine or heroin and lack of permanence of the cross-sensitization between bromocriptine and quinpirole raise questions as to the biological basis of psychomotor stimulant sensitization.

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  1. Centre for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd W., H3G 1M8, Montreal, Canada

    Diane C. Hoffman & Roy A. Wise

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  1. Diane C. Hoffman
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  2. Roy A. Wise
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Hoffman, D.C., Wise, R.A. Lack of cross-sensitization between the locomotor-activating effects of bromocriptine and those of cocaine or heroin. Psychopharmacology 110, 402–408 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244645

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244645

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