Melamed JL, de Souza Silva MA, Tomaz C, Müller CP, Huston JP, Barros M. Sensitization of hypervigilance effects of cocaine can be induced by NK3 receptor activation in marmoset monkeys.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2013;
128:155-60. [PMID:
23062871 DOI:
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.08.020]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cocaine is a widely abused drug which can result in the establishment of addiction. The neurokinin3-receptor (NK3-R) has been linked to cocaine addiction by genetic, epigenetic, and pharmacological studies suggesting that a cocaine-induced increase in NK3-R signaling may contribute to the establishment of cocaine addiction-related behaviors.
METHODS
Here we measured cocaine-induced sensitization of vigilance- and locomotor behaviors in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix penicillata) in an open field.
RESULTS
We found a sensitization of vigilance-related, but not locomotor behaviors after repeated cocaine (7mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. There was a cross-sensitization for scan frequency, but not of glance frequency, both vigilance-related behaviors, after repeated treatment with the NK3-R agonist senktide (0.2mg/kg, i.p.) given for 7 days, after a cocaine challenge (5mg/kg, i.p.).
CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that in marmoset monkeys, repeated cocaine treatment leads to a sensitization of vigilance-related behaviors, which have a prominent role in spontaneously expressed activities in this species, but not of locomotor activity. Repeated activation of NK3-Rs can mimic some of the behavioral sensitization effect and may thus contribute to the establishment of cocaine related behaviors.
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