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Attenuation of heroin reward in rats by disruption of the mesolimbic dopamine system

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Abstract

The rewarding propertics of systemically administered heroin were investigated with a conditioned place-preference paradigm. Reinforcing effects were observed with all doses of heroin tested (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) as indicated by a significant increase in preference for the place paired with drug injections. No similar change in preference was observed following saline injections. The rewarding effect of heroin (2 mg/kg) was attenuated by pretreatment with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg), but haloperidol alone did not produce a place aversion. Lesions induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway at the level of the nucleus accumbens also attenuated the heroin-induced place preference. In contrast, depletion of central and peripheral noradrenaline induced by 6-OHDA had no significant effect on heroin-induced place preference. These data suggest an important role for the mesolimbic DA system in mediating the reinforcing effects of heroin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurological Sciences, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Christina Spyraki, Hans C. Fibiger & Anthony G. Phillips

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  1. Christina Spyraki
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  2. Hans C. Fibiger
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  3. Anthony G. Phillips
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Spyraki, C., Fibiger, H.C. & Phillips, A.G. Attenuation of heroin reward in rats by disruption of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Psychopharmacology 79, 278–283 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427827

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427827

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