Failure of ondansetron to block the discriminative or reinforcing stimulus effects of cocaine in the rat

J. D. Lane, C. L. Pickering, M. L. Hooper, K. Fagan, M. B. Tyers, M. W. Emmett-Oglesby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ondansetron (GR38032F), a serotonin 5HT3 antagonist, is active in numerous behavioral paradigms and neurochemical systems. Since 5HT3 antagonists have been suggested as therapeutic agents for the treatment of drug abuse, the action of ondansetron on cocaine drug discrimination and self-administration paradigms in rats was investigated. Doses of ondansetron (0.001-1.0 mg/kg) had no effect on the discriminative stimulus properties of 10 mg/kg cocaine. In contrast, SCH23390, a dopamine D1 antagonist known to block cocaine discrimination, acted as previously reported. Ondansetron did not augment the effects of SCH23390, but at higher doses, combinations of ondansetron and SCH23390 produced disruption of lever pressing in the presence of cocaine. Ondansetron (0.001-1.0 mg/kg) had no effect on the self-administration of various doses of cocaine, nor did it have any effect on reacquisition of cocaine self-administration in animals with a history of active administration followed by a period of abstinence. As before, SCH23390, known to block cocaine self-administration, acted as previously reported. Although other 5HT antagonists may prove to be efficacious in cocaine abuse, ondansetron appears unlikely to alter the subjective or rewarding stimulus properties of cocaine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)151-162
Number of pages12
JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1992

Keywords

  • 5HT receptor subtypes
  • cocaine
  • dopamine
  • drug discrimination
  • ondansetron
  • self-administration
  • serotonin

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Failure of ondansetron to block the discriminative or reinforcing stimulus effects of cocaine in the rat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this