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The effects of infusions of CART 55–102 into the basolateral amygdala on amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

The affective aspects of d-amphetamine (AMPH) may be mediated, in part, by cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). The formation of context-drug associations produces either conditioned place preference (CPP) or conditioned place aversion (CPA).

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to determine whether intra-BLA infusions of CART 55–102 are either rewarding or aversive and modulate AMPH reward.

Materials and methods

Rats were implanted with bilateral cannulae in the BLA, were subjected to place conditioning, and were tested for CPP or CPA. Rats were conditioned with either intra-BLA infusions of artificial cerebral spinal fluid or one of three dose of CART 55–102 (1, 2, or 4 μg/side), intra-BLA infusions of a subrewarding dose of CART 55–102 (1 μg/side) plus injections of a subrewarding dose of AMPH (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), or intra-BLA infusions of an aversive dose of CART 55–102 (4 μg/side) plus injections of a rewarding dose of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.).

Results

Intra-BLA infusions of 2 μg/side CART 55–102 produced CPP, 4 μg/side produced CPA, and 1 μg/side produced neither CPP nor CPA. Intra-BLA infusions of a subrewarding dose of CART 55–102 (1 μg/side) plus injections of a subrewarding dose of AMPH (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) produced CPP. Intra-BLA infusions of an aversive dose of CART 55–102 (4 μg/side) plus injections of a rewarding dose of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) produced neither CPP nor CPA.

Conclusions

Both the affective properties of intra-BLA CART 55–102 and its ability to either facilitate or block AMPH reward are dose dependent.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Philip Dougherty and IhteshamUr Rahman for technical assistance. This research was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse grant DA015513.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA

    David J. Rademacher, Elyse M. Sullivan & David A. Figge

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  1. David J. Rademacher
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Correspondence to David J. Rademacher.

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Rademacher, D.J., Sullivan, E.M. & Figge, D.A. The effects of infusions of CART 55–102 into the basolateral amygdala on amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in rats. Psychopharmacology 208, 499–509 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1748-4

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