Characterization of the Rapid-Onset Type of Behavioral Sensitization to Amphetamine in Mice: Role of Drug–Environment Conditioning

Abstract

A rapid-onset type of behavioral sensitization (ROBS) has been demonstrated in rats treated with a single 'priming' injection of amphetamine (AMP). In that species, however, this phenomenon was restricted to AMP-induced stereotyped behavior (SB), not occurring for the locomotor-stimulant effect (LSE) of AMP and not reflecting environment-specific sensitization. In the present study, the ROBS was characterized in the mouse. Mice received a single 'priming' intraperitoneal injection of 5.0 mg/kg AMP which was paired or not with environment. At different intervals (3, 4 or 5 h) subgroups were tested for AMP (1.5 or 5.0 mg/kg)-induced SB or AMP (1.5 mg/kg)-induced open-field LSE. Results showed that: (1) in the absence of drug-environment association, a priming injection of AMP increased the SB induced by a 1.5 mg/kg AMP challenge injection given 3 h (but not 4 or 5 h) later; (2) when the dose of AMP challenge injection was increased to 5.0 mg/kg, an enhancement of SB was verified at all the intervals tested (3, 4, and 5 h); (3) when animals were tested in an open field, the priming injection of AMP produced an increase in the LSE of a 1.5 mg/kg AMP challenge injection, given 4 h later; (4) drug-environment association increased both SB and locomotion after a saline challenge injection and potentiated the rapid-onset sensitization of both behaviors in AMP-challenged mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the ROBS phenomenon also occurs in mice, is extended to AMP-induced LSE, and is markedly potentiated by (but does not depend on) environmental conditioning. Neuropsychopharmacology (2006) 31, 151-159.

Brain Disposition of cis-para-Methyl-4-Methylaminorex (cis-4,4′-DMAR) and Its Potential Metabolites after Acute and Chronic Treatment in Rats: Correlation with Central Behavioral Effects

“…The latter possibility is unlikely, considering the low BBB passage and the brain PK profile of the main metabolite (M2). With regard to the second possibility, it has been reported that an immediate and long-lasting dopaminergic sensitization is already elicited after a single injection of amphetamine and other psychostimulants (Vanderschuren et al, 1999;Chinen et al, 2006;Kameda et al, 2011;Marinho et al, 2015). Consistently, after repeated treatment (once a day for 14 days), the compound's ability to stimulate locomotor activity occurred earlier and it was sustained longer compared with that measured after the first dose, with a significant increase with a new drug challenge after 48-hour washout.…”

Effects of prenatal immune activation on amphetamine-induced addictive behaviors: Contributions from animal models

“…Since stereotypy is related to an increased dopaminergic transmission in the striatum (Canales and Graybiel, 2000;Chinen et al, 2006;Saka et al, 2004), it could be suggested that prenatal Poly(I:C) was not able to enhance the dopamine in this cerebral region. Oppositely, the maternal immune activation by LPS promoted an upregulation of D 1 receptor within the striatum (Zager et al, 2012).…”

“…The stereotyped behavior was quantified for 15 s, every 5 min during 100 consecutive min. The stereotypy notes were attributed as proposed by Setler et al, 1976 andChinen et al, 2006. Scores from 0 to 4 were attributed to each animal, as follows: 0) asleep or stationary; 1) active; 2) active with predominantly stereotyped sniffing and rearing; 3) stereotyped sniffing with bursts of licking and/or gnawing and biting; 4) continual licking and/or gnawing of cage grids.…”

“…The open-field was a circular wooden box (40 cm in diameter and 50 cm high) with an open top and a floor divided into 19 squares as previously described (Chinen et al, 2006). During a 10-min session, hand-operated counters were used to quantify locomotion frequency (number of entries into any floor unit with the four paws).…”

5-HT1B Receptor-Mediated Serotoninergic Modulation of Methylphenidate-Induced Locomotor Activation in Rats

“…In contrast, previous administration of methamphetamine markedly potentiated methylphenidate-induced motor activation. It must be pointed out that the behavioral protocol used in the present study is different to that used in studies showing a rapidonset type of behavioral sensitization of psychostimulants, where the effect of a high dose (prime) of a psychostimulant potentiates the behavioral effects of a lower dose (probe) of the same or another psychostimulant (Kuczenski and Segal, 1999a, b;Chinen et al, 2006). Furthermore, at least in rats, this sensitization seems to be restricted to stereotypies, without affecting locomotion (Kuczenski and Segal, 1999a, b).…”