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Differences between d-methamphetamine and d-amphetamine in rats: working memory, tolerance, and extinction

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Abstract

Rationale

Previously, we have shown that d-amphetamine (AMPH) was more potent than d-methamphetamine (METH) at increasing extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) at doses that had similar effects in the nucleus accumbens. Since working memory depends on PFC DA, it was postulated that AMPH would also be more potent than METH at affecting working memory.

Objective

To determine if AMPH is more potent than METH at affecting working memory.

Methods

Working memory was measured in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats using a delayed-alternation T-maze task with multiple delays (1, 10, 60 s) and food rewards. The percentage of food rewards consumed was also recorded. Animals were tested with METH and AMPH before and after a chronic protocol, with measurements of locomotor activity used to test for pharmacological tolerance or sensitization. The effects of METH and AMPH on extinction were also examined by omitting the food rewards from the T-maze.

Results

Both METH and AMPH produced dose-related bimodal effects on working memory at the intermediate delay (10 s); however, AMPH was more potent than METH. Both METH and AMPH initially also decreased the percentage of food rewards consumed in the T-maze. After chronic testing, animals displayed tolerance to both the working memory impairments and the reduction in food reward intake produced by AMPH. Animals did not display significant tolerance to the effects of METH on food reward consumption and performed worse in the T-maze after chronic testing. METH, but not AMPH, interfered with extinction.

Conclusions

These results indicate that METH and AMPH differ in altering working memory and the expression of tolerance, perhaps due to differences in behavioral inhibition.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by NIDA grants DA03817 and DA07307.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue (MC-136), Albany, NY 12208, USA

    James R. Shoblock, Isabelle M. Maisonneuve & Stanley D. Glick

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  1. James R. Shoblock
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  2. Isabelle M. Maisonneuve
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  3. Stanley D. Glick
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Correspondence to James R. Shoblock.

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Shoblock, J.R., Maisonneuve, I.M. & Glick, S.D. Differences between d-methamphetamine and d-amphetamine in rats: working memory, tolerance, and extinction. Psychopharmacology 170, 150–156 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1522-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1522-y

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