Cholecystokinin modulates both the development and the expression of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine in the rat

Abstract 

Rationale: Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as amphetamine (AMPH) produces an enduring augmentation of their locomotor effects. Previous research suggests that this phenomenon, termed sensitization, is related to changes within the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. Objectives: The present experiments were designed to investigate the contribution of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK), a neuropeptide co-localized with DA in the mesolimbic system, to the development (experiment 1) and the expression (experiment 2) of locomotor sensitization to AMPH. Methods: In experiment 1, rats were injected (IP) with the CCK_A antagonist devazepide (0, 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1 mg/kg) or the CCK_B antagonist L-365,260 (0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/kg) followed by AMPH (1.5 mg/kg) once daily for seven days. Following 10 days withdrawal, rats were administered AMPH (0.75 mg/kg) and their locomotor activity recorded. In experiment 2, rats were administered AMPH (1.5 mg/kg) once daily for 7 days. Following 10 days withdrawal, rats were injected with devazepide (0, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/kg) or L-365,260 (0, 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1 mg/kg) followed 30 min later by AMPH (0.75 mg/kg) and their locomotor activity recorded. Results: When administered during the AMPH pretreatment phase of experiment 1, the two highest doses of L-365,260 attenuated, and the lowest dose of L-365,260 potentiated, the sensitized locomotor response to AMPH challenge. When administered prior to the AMPH challenge phase of experiment 2, devazepide attenuated the sensitized locomotor response to AMPH. Conclusions: These results suggest that CCK_B and CCK_A receptors modulate the development and the expression of behavioral sensitization to AMPH, respectively.