Effect of dopamine receptor antagonists on renewal of cocaine seeking by reexposure to drug-associated contextual cues

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002 Dec;27(6):1006-15. doi: 10.1016/S0893-133X(02)00356-1.

Abstract

We recently found that in rats trained to self-administer a heroin-cocaine mixture, exposure to the drug self-administration environment, after extinction of the drug-reinforced behavior in a different context, leads to renewal of drug seeking. Here we further explored the role of contextual stimuli in drug seeking by characterizing the effect of drug-associated environmental stimuli on renewal of cocaine seeking. We also investigated whether activation of dopamine receptors contributes to context-induced renewal of cocaine seeking by testing the effects of selective D1-like (SCH 23390) and D2-like (raclopride) receptor antagonists. Rats were trained for 10 days to self-administer cocaine by pressing a lever. Next, lever pressing was extinguished in the presence of the discrete cues associated with cocaine infusions for 10 days in a context that was distinctively different from the drug-taking context. On the test days, rats were pretreated with SCH 23390 (0, 5 or 10 microg/kg) or raclopride (0, 50 or 100 microg/kg) and non-reinforced lever-pressing behavior was determined either in the extinction context (Control group) or the cocaine-associated context (Renewal group). Consistent with our previous report, cocaine seeking was renewed when rats were exposed to the drug-associated context after extinction in a different context. Furthermore, pretreatment with the D1-like or the D2-like receptor antagonists attenuated context-induced renewal of cocaine seeking. These data suggest that activation of dopamine receptors is involved in reinstatement of cocaine seeking induced by exposure to the drug self-administration context.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Addictive* / psychology
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Cues*
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans
  • Receptors, Dopamine / physiology
  • Self Administration / psychology

Substances

  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Cocaine