Dose and elasticity of demand for self-administered cocaine in rats

Kearns, David N.; Silberberg, Alan

doi:10.1097/fbp.0000000000000218

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Winger et al (1993, 2006) tested three cocaine doses in monkeys and found that demand elasticity for the two larger doses did not differ, but demand for the lowest dose was more elastic. Kearns and Silberberg (2016) tested three doses of cocaine – 0.11, 0.33, and 1.0 mg/kg – in rats and found that elasticity of demand did not differ for the two larger doses. Demand for the small dose (near to the smallest dose that still acts as a reinforcer) was more elastic than was demand for the other doses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heroin and saccharin demand and preference in rats

Schwartz

Kim

Silberberg

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Several recent studies have investigated the choice between heroin and a non-drug alternative reinforcer in rats. A common finding in these studies is that there are large individual differences in preference, with some rats preferring heroin and some preferring the non-drug alternative. The primary goal of the present study was to determine whether individual differences in how heroin or saccharin is valued, based on demand analysis, predicts choice. Methods Rats lever-pressed for heroin infusions and saccharin reinforcers on fixed-ratio schedules. The essential value of each reinforcer was obtained from resulting demand curves. Rats were then trained on a mutually exclusive choice procedure where pressing one lever resulted in heroin and pressing another resulted in saccharin. After seven sessions of increased access to heroin or saccharin, rats were reexposed to the demand and choice procedures. Results Demand for heroin was more elastic than demand for saccharin (i.e., heroin had lower essential value than saccharin). When allowed to choose, most rats preferred saccharin. The essential value of heroin, but not saccharin, predicted preference. The essential value of both heroin and saccharin increased following a week of increased access to heroin, but similar saccharin exposure had no effect on essential value. Preference was unchanged after increased access to either reinforcer. Conclusion Heroin-preferring rats differed from saccharin-preferring rats in how they valued heroin, but not saccharin. To the extent that choice models addiction-related behavior, these results suggest that overvaluation of opioids specifically, rather than undervaluation of non-drug alternatives, could identify susceptible individuals.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heroin and saccharin demand and preference in rats

Schwartz

Kim

Silberberg

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It has been shown previously that the elasticity of rats’ demand for cocaine was independent of dose when using doses above a minimum threshold. Kearns and Silberberg (2016) tested elasticity of demand for three doses of cocaine (0.11, 0.33, and 1.0 mg/kg/infusion), and found that demand elasticity was equivalent for the two higher doses, but demand was more elastic for the lower dose (which was near the lowest dose that is still reinforcing in rats). A similar result has also been found in monkeys responding for cocaine (Winger 1993; Winger et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of nicotine pre-exposure on demand for cocaine and sucrose in male rats

Schwartz

Kearns²,

Silberberg³

2018

Behavioural Pharmacology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of the present study was to determine how nicotine pre-exposure affects the elasticity of demand for intravenous cocaine and for sucrose pellets in adult male rats. In Experiment 1, demand for cocaine was assessed in rats that had nicotine in their drinking water. Nicotine pre-exposure significantly decreased rats' willingness to defend cocaine consumption as the price (measured as the number of responses per cocaine infusion) increased compared with a control group with no nicotine pre-exposure. That is, nicotine increased the elasticity of demand for cocaine infusions. Experiment 2 repeated the first experiment, but with rats working for sucrose pellets instead of cocaine. Nicotine pre-exposure had no effect on the elasticity of demand for sucrose. This pattern of results suggests that nicotine pre-exposure can reduce the reinforcing effects of cocaine, but not sucrose, in adult male rats.

show abstract