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Contribution of serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT2 receptor subtypes to the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) 5-HT2 receptor (5-HT2R) family is an important regulator of the behavioral responsiveness to cocaine.

Objective

The present study is an analysis of the role of the 5-HT2R subtypes (5-HT2AR, 5-HT2BR, and 5-HT2CR) in the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever, water-reinforced FR 20 task, and we investigated the ability of the 5-HT2AR antagonist 1(Z)-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxyimino]-1(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2(E)-propene (SR 46349B), the 5-HT2BR antagonist N-(1-methyl-5-indolyl)-N′-(3-methyl-5-isothiazolyl) urea (SB 204741), and the 5-HT2CR antagonist [(+)-cis -4,5,7a,8,9,10,11,11a-octahydro-7H-10-methylindolo(1,7-bC)(2,6)naphthyridine (SDZ SER-082) to substitute for or to modulate the stimulus effects of cocaine.

Results

Pretreatment with SR 46349B (0.5–1 mg/kg) resulted in a rightward shift of the cocaine dose–response curve, while SDZ SER-082 (1 mg/kg) shifted the dose–response for cocaine to the left; SB 204741 (1–3 mg/kg) was inactive.

Conclusions

Our pharmacological analyses of selective antagonists of 5-HT2AR, 5-HT2BR, and 5-HT2CR indicate oppositional influence of 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR on the stimulus effects of cocaine and exclude a role for the 5-HT2BR. These data suggest that 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR may be important in modulating the subjective effects of cocaine in humans.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the US–Poland Joint Commission Maria Sklodowska Curie Fund (MF and KAC), the National Institute on Drug Abuse [DA 06511 (KAC), DA 00260 (KAC), DA 15259 (MJB)], and the statutory activity of the Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences in Crakow (MF). The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Ms. Ewa Nowak.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343, Cracow, Poland

    Malgorzata Filip

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555-1031, USA

    Marcy J. Bubar & Kathryn A. Cunningham

Authors
  1. Malgorzata Filip
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  2. Marcy J. Bubar
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  3. Kathryn A. Cunningham
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Correspondence to Kathryn A. Cunningham.

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Filip, M., Bubar, M.J. & Cunningham, K.A. Contribution of serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT2 receptor subtypes to the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in rats. Psychopharmacology 183, 482–489 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0197-y

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