Blockade of lithium chloride-induced conditioned place aversion as a test for antiemetic agents: comparison of metoclopramide with combined extracts of Zingiber officinale and Ginkgo biloba

Quantifying conditioned place preference: a review of current analyses and a proposal for a novel approach

Conditioned place preference (CPP) is used to measure the conditioned rewarding effects of a stimulus, including food, drugs, and social interaction. Because various analytic approaches can be used to quantify CPP, this can make direct comparisons across studies difficult. Common methods for analyzing CPP involve comparing the time spent in the CS+ compartment (e.g., compartment paired with drug) at posttest to the time spent in the CS+ compartment at pretest or to the CS- compartment (e.g., compartment paired with saline) at posttest. Researchers can analyze the time spent in the compartment(s), or they can calculate a difference score [(CS+post - CS+pre) or (CS+post - CS-post)] or a preference ratio (e.g., CS+post/(CS+post + CS-post)). While each analysis yields results that are, overall, highly correlated, there are situations in which different analyses can lead to discrepant interpretations. The current paper discusses some of the limitations associated with current analytic approaches and proposes a novel method for quantifying CPP, the adjusted CPP score, which can help resolve the limitations associated with current approaches. The adjusted CPP score is applied to both hypothetical and previously published data. Another major topic covered in this paper is methodologies for determining if individual subjects have met criteria for CPP. The paper concludes by highlighting ways in which researchers can increase transparency and replicability in CPP studies.

Parvalbumin Interneurons Determine Emotional Valence Through Modulating Accumbal Output Pathways

Parvalbumin (PV) expressing GABAergic interneurons provide large source of GABA to spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the striatum. However, the roles of PV⁺ interneurons in the regulation of SPNs in the ventral striatum and emotional states are largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether stimulation of ventral striatal (accumbal) PV⁺ interneurons would drive emotional valence in mice. We found that during conditioned place preference (CPP) training, activation of accumbal PV⁺ interneurons evoked place preference while suppressing them resulted in conditioned place aversion (CPA). Activation of PV⁺ interneurons during place conditioning increased Fos expression in SPNs in the direct pathway (dSPNs) and impaired lithium chloride-induced CPA. Activation of dSPNs and SPNs in the indirect pathway (iSPNs) induced CPP and CPA, respectively; conversely, suppression of dSPNs or iSPNs induced CPA or CPP. In addition, activation or suppression of calretinin-expressing (CR) GABAergic interneurons did not induce place preference or aversion. These data suggest that PV⁺ interneurons can bidirectionally determine the emotional valence through their regulation of accumbal SPN activities and raise the possibility that manipulation of PV⁺ interneuron activity may have the potential to alter emotional valence and treat related mental disorders.

A single, extinction-based treatment with a kappa opioid receptor agonist elicits a long-term reduction in cocaine relapse

Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists have known anti-addiction properties and can reduce drug seeking. Their potential for clinical use has largely been daunted by their aversive properties mediated through p38 MAPK signaling. Here we examined the therapeutic potential of the KOR agonist U50,488 (U50) to reduce cocaine seeking in a self-administration model. Following cocaine self-administration and 7 days of forced home-cage abstinence, rats were administered a single dose of U50 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the first extinction training session, wherein cocaine and the discrete cocaine-paired cues were no longer available. U50 reduced cocaine seeking on this first extinction session, but did not alter extinction training over subsequent days. 2 weeks after U50 treatment, rats underwent a test of cue-induced reinstatement, and rats that had received U50 reinstated less than controls. Central inhibition of p38 MAPK at the time of U50 administration prevented its long-term therapeutic effect on reinstatement, but not its acute reduction in drug seeking on extinction day 1. The long-term therapeutic effect of U50 required operant extinction during U50 exposure, extended to cocaine-primed reinstatement, and was not mimicked by another aversive drug, lithium chloride (LiCl). These data suggest U50 elicits its long-term anti-relapse effects through a KOR-p38 MAPK-specific aversive counterconditioning of the operant cocaine-seeking response. A single, albeit aversive treatment that is able to reduce relapse long-term warrants further consideration of the therapeutic potential of KOR agonists in the treatment of addiction.

Expression and pharmacological modulation of visceral pain-induced conditioned place aversion in mice

Pain encompasses both a sensory as well as an affective dimension and these are differentially processed in the brain and periphery. It is therefore important to develop animal models to reflect the non-reflexive assays in pain. In this study, we compared effects of the mu opioid receptor agonist morphine, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen and the kappa receptor opioid agonist U50,488H and antagonist JDTic on acetic acid-induced stretching and acetic acid-induced aversion in the condition place aversion (CPA) test in male ICR mice. Intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid (0.32-1%) was equipotent in stimulating stretching and CPA. Ketoprofen, morphine and U50,488H all inhibited the acid-induced stretching. Ketoprofen and morphine also blocked the acid-induced CPA but U50,488H failed to do so. The reversal ability of ketoprofen and morphine on acid-induced CPA is unique to pain-stimulated place aversion since these drugs failed to reduce non-noxious LiCl-induced CPA. Overall, this study characterized and validated a preclinical mouse model of pain-related aversive behavior that can be used to assess genetic and biological mechanisms of pain as well as improving the predictive validity of preclinical studies on candidate analgesics.

Predicting abuse potential of stimulants and other dopaminergic drugs: overview and recommendations

Examination of a drug's abuse potential at multiple levels of analysis (molecular/cellular action, whole-organism behavior, epidemiological data) is an essential component to regulating controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). We reviewed studies that examined several central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, focusing on those with primarily dopaminergic actions, in drug self-administration, drug discrimination, and physical dependence. For drug self-administration and drug discrimination, we distinguished between experiments conducted with rats and nonhuman primates (NHP) to highlight the common and unique attributes of each model in the assessment of abuse potential. Our review of drug self-administration studies suggests that this procedure is important in predicting abuse potential of dopaminergic compounds, but there were many false positives. We recommended that tests to determine how reinforcing a drug is relative to a known drug of abuse may be more predictive of abuse potential than tests that yield a binary, yes-or-no classification. Several false positives also occurred with drug discrimination. With this procedure, we recommended that future research follow a standard decision-tree approach that may require examining the drug being tested for abuse potential as the training stimulus. This approach would also allow several known drugs of abuse to be tested for substitution, and this may reduce false positives. Finally, we reviewed evidence of physical dependence with stimulants and discussed the feasibility of modeling these phenomena in nonhuman animals in a rational and practical fashion. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'CNS Stimulants'.

SIP30 is required for neuropathic pain-evoked aversion in rats

SIP30 (SNAP25 interacting protein of 30) is a SNAP25 interaction protein of 30 kDa that functions in neurotransmitter release. Using a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain, we profiled gene expression in the rat spinal cord and brain and identified sip30, which was upregulated after CCI. Here, we show that CCI induced a bilateral increase of SIP30 in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a key brain region that has been implicated in pain affect. We put rats in a chamber with one half painted white (light area) and the other half painted black (dark area), and measured neuropathic pain-evoked place escape/avoidance paradigm (PEAP) to quantify the level of negative emotion evoked by painful stimuli using a Von Frey hair. Inhibition of CCI-mediated induction of SIP30 by intra-rACC injection of shRNA targeting the rat sip30 gene reduced PEAP. Interestingly, knockdown of SIP30 did not affect CCI-induced evoked pain such as heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Neither did it affect general learning and memory. CCI-induced upregulation of SIP30 was correlated with activation of ERK, PKA, and CREB in the rACC. Intra-rACC administration of PKA or ERK inhibitors suppressed CCI-induced SIP30 upregulation and blocked the induction of PEAP. Additionally, knockdown of SIP30 suppressed the frequency of mEPSCs and increased paired-pulse ratios in rACC slices and decreased extracellular glutamate concentrations. Together, our results highlight SIP30 as a target of PKA and ERK in the rACC to mediate neuropathic pain-evoked negative emotion via modulation of glutamate release and excitatory synaptic transmission.

Odor-avoidance or odor-preference induced by amphetamine in the infant rat depending on the dose and testing modality

By the second postnatal week of life infant rats can acquire taste avoidance induced by amphetamine. Psychostimulant drugs supports appetitive and aversive learning in adult rats. Their appetitive effects are more likely to become associated with contextual cues, while the aversive ones have been consistently found in taste aversion learning. To explain this paradox, it has been proposed that rats would avoid a taste that predicts a change in their homeostasis because this species cannot vomit. In this study we assessed the motivational properties of amphetamine in preweanling rats by means of an odor conditioning preparation, which enables the analysis of the hedonic value of the memory by means of a consumption test or in terms of locomotor approach to the odor. Results indicate that regardless of the amphetamine dose (1 or 5 mg/kg), when animals were evaluated in the intake test, subjects avoided the odor. However, the outcome in the locomotor avoidance test varied as a function of the amphetamine dose. Rats trained with the low dose (1 mg/kg) showed odor preference, while the highest amphetamine dose (5 mg/kg) induced odor avoidance. When LiCl was employed as an unconditioned stimulus (US), rats showed avoidance in the intake and locomotor activity tests. These data indicate that amphetamine, like other drugs of abuse, supports appetitive conditioning in preweanling rats. Interestingly, infant rats expressed conditioned odor avoidance or preference depending on the dose and testing modality. Results were discussed considering current theories of avoidance learning induced by rewarding drugs.

Direct intra-accumbal infusion of a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist abolishes WIN 55,212-2-induced aversion

The cannabinoid system is known to interact with a variety of neuromodulators in the central nervous system and impacts diverse behaviors. Previous studies have demonstrated that limbic norepinephrine is a critical determinant in the behavioral expression of cannabinoid-induced aversion. The present study was carried out to define the adrenergic receptor subtype involved in mediating cannabinoid-induced behavioral responses. An acute microinjection of the β1-adrenergic receptor blocker, betaxolol, directly into the nucleus accumbens (Acb), was able to prevent WIN 55,212-2-induced aversion, but not lithium-induced aversion, as measured in a place conditioning paradigm. These results suggest that noradrenergic transmission in the Acb is important for cannabinoid-induced aversion and that beta-adrenergic antagonists may be effective in counteracting negative side effects of cannabinoid-based agents.

Lithium chloride disrupts consolidation of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in male mice: the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP signaling pathway

Lithium effects on brain functions such as cognition, attention, learning and memory are well-established for ages; however, the way it affects these functions and its precise mechanism of action remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of lithium on the consolidation of morphine-associated conditioned place preference and the possible involvement of the NO/cGMP pathway. Using an unbiased conditioned place preference (CPP) model, the effects of lithium (1-100 mg/kg, i.p.), nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (5-100 mg/kg, i.p.), nitric oxide precursor L-arginine (50-150 mg/kg, i.p.) and phosphodiesterase inhibitor sildenafil (5-40 mg/kg, i.p.) on the consolidation of morphine-induced CPP were assessed. In addition, the possible interaction between lithium, L-arginine and sildenafil or subeffective doses of lithium and L-NAME on the consolidation of morphine-induced contextual memory was evaluated. NMRI mice were used in all studies. Lithium (5-30 mg/kg, i.p.), immediately after conditioning trials, significantly reduced the time spent by mice in the reward-paired compartment. Although post-training administration of L-arginine, sildenafil or L-NAME had no significant effect on the consolidation of CPP, concomitant administration of L-arginine (50-150 mg/kg) and sildenafil (5-10 mg/kg) with lithium (30 mg/kg) prevented the impairing effect of lithium. Also, co-administration of sub-effective doses of lithium (1 mg/kg) and L-NAME (5 mg/kg) disrupted consolidation of CPP. However, delayed administration of effective doses of lithium, which shows specific effect on memory consolidation, did not affect morphine-induced CPP. Lithium seems to inhibit consolidation of morphine-induced CPP and this impairing effect might be via nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway.

The behavioral actions of lithium in rodent models: leads to develop novel therapeutics

For nearly as long as lithium has been in clinical use for the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, and other conditions, investigators have attempted to characterize its effects on behaviors in rodents. Lithium consistently decreases exploratory activity, rearing, aggression, and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion; and it increases the sensitivity to pilocarpine-induced seizures, decreases immobility time in the forced swim test, and attenuates reserpine-induced hypolocomotion. Lithium also predictably induces conditioned taste aversion and alterations in circadian rhythms. The modulation of stereotypy, sensitization, and reward behavior are less consistent actions of the drug. These behavioral models may be relevant to human symptoms and to clinical endophenotypes. It is likely that the actions of lithium in a subset of these animal models are related to the therapeutic efficacy, as well the side effects, of the drug. We conclude with a brief discussion of various molecular mechanisms by which these lithium-sensitive behaviors may be mediated, and comment on the ways in which rat and mouse models can be used more effectively in the future to address persistent questions about the therapeutically relevant molecular actions of lithium.

Interactions between metoclopramide and morphine: enhanced antinociception and motor dysfunction in rats

1. Opioid analgesics and anti-emetics are often used concomitantly to treat pain and nausea and vomiting in people with malignant disease. We investigated interactions between the opioid analgesic morphine and the anti-emetic metoclopramide, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, on nociception and gross motor function. 2. To assess for antinociceptive interactions, 11 Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with morphine (5.0 mg/kg) or saline in combination with metoclopramide (0.5, 1.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) or saline and, 30 min later, the tail-flick latencies to a noxious thermal stimulus (49 degrees C water) were measured. Immediately thereafter we induced reperfusion hyperalgesia in the rats' tails using a tourniquet cuff and tested nociception again. Because, in addition to its ability to block D2 receptors, metoclopramide is also a weak 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, we assessed in a further 11 rats whether any antinociceptive interactions occurred between morphine (5.0 mg/kg) and ondansetron (0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg), an anti-emetic that selectively antagonizes 5-HT(3) receptors. To assess for motor interactions, we injected another group of nine rats with morphine (5.0 mg/kg) or saline in combination with metoclopramide (0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) or saline and tested the ability of the animals to run on an 80 mm diameter rod rotating at 25 r.p.m. for 30 min. 3. Metoclopramide was not inherently analgesic or antihyperalgesic, but the highest dose of metoclopramide (5.0 mg/kg) enhanced the analgesic and antihyperalgesic effects of morphine. Neither dose of ondansetron was analgesic or antihyperalgesic or enhanced the antinociceptive actions of morphine. 4. Only the high dose of metoclopramide compromised running performance when administered with saline. However, coadministering morphine with metoclopramide (both doses) decreased motor performance. 5. Therefore, metoclopramide, possibly through its actions on D2 receptors and not 5-HT(3) receptors, enhances the analgesic and antihyperalgesic effects of morphine, but morphine exacerbates metoclopramide-induced motor dysfunction in rats.

Zingiber officinale exhibits behavioral radioprotection against radiation-induced CTA in a gender-specific manner

At the organismic level, exposure to radiation can produce taste aversion (CTA) learning and emesis, which have been proposed as behavioral endpoints that are mediated by harmful effects of radiations on peripheral systems, primarily the gastrointestinal system. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to study the gastroprotective action of hydroalcoholic extract of zingiber rhizome (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) against radiation-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in both male and female species of animals, for testing its potential as a behavioral radioprotector. Administration of zingiber extract 1 h before 2-Gy gamma-radiation was significantly effective in blocking the saccharin avoidance response, with 200 and 250 mg/kg b.wt. i.p., being the most effective doses for male and female rats, respectively. A comparison of the efficacy of zingiber extract with two antiemetic drugs, ondansteron and dexamethasone, revealed that the extract rendered comparable protection against radiation-induced CTA. Our experiments also confirmed the existence of sex dichotomy (i.e., the sex of animal greatly influenced response towards radiation exposure) in relation to behavioral responses (CTA) or differential metabolism. The observed gender variations were hypothesized to be a result of hormonal fluctuations and differences in pharmacological parameters in male and female rats. To correlate the mechanism of action, the free-radical-scavenging potential of zingiber extract to scavenge hydroxyl ion and nitric oxide was also tested, in cell-free system and a concentration of 1000 microg/ml, was found to be the most potent, which has been proposed as one the many activities assisting in its overall ability to modulate radiation-induced taste aversion. The results demonstrate that Z. officinale possesses antioxidant, radioprotective and neuromodulatory properties that can be effectively utilized for behavioral radioprotection and for efficiently mitigating radiation-induced CTA in both males and females species.

Radioprotection by plant products: present status and future prospects

The development of radioprotective agents has been the subject of intense research in view of their potential for use within a radiation environment, such as space exploration, radiotherapy and even nuclear war. However, no ideal, safe synthetic radioprotectors are available to date, so the search for alternative sources, including plants, has been on going for several decades. In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, several plants have been used to treat free radical-mediated ailments and, therefore, it is logical to expect that such plants may also render some protection against radiation damage. A systematic screening approach can provide leads to identifying potential new candidate drugs from plant sources, for mitigation of radiation injury. This article reviews some of the most promising plants, and their bioactive principles, that are widely used in traditional systems of medicine, and which have rendered significant radioprotection in both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Plants and their constituents with pharmacological activities that may be relevant to amelioration of radiation-mediated damage, including antiemetic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, cell proliferative, wound healing and haemopoietic stimulatories are also discussed.

Dose response effects of lithium chloride on conditioned place aversions and locomotor activity in rats

The present study examined the multi-variable locomotor activity effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) treatment in male rats. Of interest was a determination of which variables might show a dose-response relationship in LiCl-induced conditioned place aversions. Automated open-fields were partitioned into two chambers distinct in tactile and visual cues. A control group [n=8] received saline (NaCl; 0.15 M) paired with both chambers while three LiCl groups (0.15 M; 32 mg/kg [n=7], 95 mg/kg [n=7], 127 mg/kg [n=7]) received LiCl paired with the normally preferred chamber and saline paired with the non-preferred chamber. During extinction trials, rats were allowed to choose between the two chambers to provide an index of conditioned place aversions. Locomotor activity and its distribution within the chambers were also assessed during both conditioning and extinction trials. Dose-dependent decreases occurred in all measures of locomotor activity following LiCl administration during conditioning. During extinction trials, place aversions developed in animals conditioned with LiCl. LiCl-treated rats spent significantly less time in the LiCl-paired chamber relative to controls but not in a dose-dependent manner. Animals that had been conditioned with 95 or 127 but not 32 mg/kg LiCl, displayed significantly more vertical activity in the LiCl-paired chamber than controls during extinction trials. These findings indicate that, in addition to producing dose-dependent unconditioned effects on locomotor activity, LiCl also produces dose-dependent conditioned effects on vertical activity. These conditioned rearing response effects provide a valid measure of the conditioned avoidance response that provides evidence for dose-dependent LiCl-induced conditioned place aversions.

Anxiolytic and antiemetic activity of Zingiber officinale

The benzene fraction (BF) of a petroleum ether extract of dried rhizomes of ginger, which contained anticonvulsant principle(s), was screened for anxiolytic and antiemetic activity. Motor coordination was not affected by BF per se, but diazepam-induced motor incoordination was potentiated. Animals treated with BF showed decreased occupancy in the closed arm of the elevated plus maze suggesting the presence of anxiolytic principles in the BF. BF also blocked lithium sulphate-induced conditioned place aversion indicating antiemetic activity. These findings suggest that the fraction (BF) possesses anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and antiemetic activity.

Enhanced conditioned inhibitory avoidance by a combined extract of Zingiber officinale and Ginkgo biloba

Previous work has shown that intragastric administration of Zingicomb, a preparation consisting of Zingiber officinale and Ginkgo biloba extracts, has anxiolytic-like properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of acute treatment with this preparation on inhibitory avoidance learning. The influence of pre-trial administered Zingicomb (ZC) on inhibitory avoidance conditioning was investigated in adult male Wistar rats, with a one-trial step-through avoidance task. The animals were treated intragastrically with either vehicle, 0.5, 1, 10 or 100 mg/kg ZC 60 min prior to the acquisition trial. When tested 24 h after training, rats which had received 10 mg/kg ZC exhibited significantly longer step-through latencies than vehicle treated animals. This result, thus, demonstrates the beneficial effects of Zingicomb on conditioned inhibitory avoidance. Unlike conventional anxiolytic drugs, such as the benzodiazepines, which tend to have amnesic properties, this phytopharmacon is a potent anxiolytic agent which, additionally, can facilitate performance on a learning task, indicating promising clinical applications.

Enhanced maze performance and reduced oxidative stress by combined extracts of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba in the aged rat

Here we assessed the effects of i.g. administration of Zingicomb (ZC), a mixture of zingiber officinale and ginkgo biloba extracts, on learning and memory, and on indicators of oxidative stress in aged rats. Effects of ZC (1 and 10 mg/kg) were investigated in 22-24 months old Wistar rats using the Morris water maze, in which they show deficient performance as compared to 3 months old rats in the undrugged state (days 1 and 2). Treatment was administered on days 3 and 4 of training, then over 7 days with training discontinued, and again on days 5 and 6 when training was resumed. Thereafter chronic treatment was maintained over 5 months. 1 mg/kg ZC improved escape learning in the water maze. The two capital indicators of oxidative stress in brain homogenates, the amount of oxidized proteins (assessed as carbonyl group containing proteins) and lipid peroxidation, were significantly reduced in ZC treated animals. Thus, ZC, which had previously been shown to improve inhibitory avoidance learning and to have anxiolytic properties in adult animals, might also facilitate spatial learning in aged animals, and reduces indices of oxidative stress in brain tissue after chronic treatment.

Potential role for Ginkgo biloba extract in the treatment of glaucoma

Glaucoma is becoming recognized as a condition for which not only elevated intraocular pressure, but also non-pressure-dependent risk factors are responsible. New avenues of treatment into which investigations are being initiated include agents which could possibly improve blood flow to the eye and neuroprotective drugs. Only calcium channel blockers are presently available for such treatment in glaucoma, and these have not been widely adopted, in contrast to clinical trials involving a number of neuroprotectants in other neurologic disorders. Ginkgo biloba extract is freely available and has several biological actions which combine to make it a potentially important agent in the treatment of glaucoma: improvement of central and peripheral blood flow, reduction of vasospasm, reduction of serum viscosity, antioxidant activity, platelet activating factor inhibitory activity, inhibition of apoptosis, and inhibition of excitotoxicity. The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract as a potential antiglaucoma therapy deserves intensive scrutiny.

Effect of oral administration of Pinellia ternata, Zingiberis rhizoma and their mixture on the efferent activity of the gastric branch of the vagus nerve in the rat

The effect of taste stimulation of Pinellia temata, Zingiberis rhizoma and their mixture on the efferent activity of the gastric branch of the vagus nerve was observed in the anesthetized rat. Taste stimulation by Pinellia ternata (50 mg/ml, 10 min) resulted in a suppression in vagal gastric nerve activity. On the contrary, stimulation by Zingiberis rhizoma (50 mg/ml, 10 min) caused a facilitation in efferent activity. The mixture of Pinellia ternata and Zingiberis rhizoma (5:1, 50 mg/ml, 10 min stimulation) demonstrated no suppressive effect on gastric nerve activity. These observations indicate that it is reasonable to prescribe Pinellia ternata with Zingiberis rhizoma in traditional Japanese medicine to prevent suppressive effect of the taste of Pinellia ternata on gastric function.

Measuring reward with the conditioned place preference paradigm: a comprehensive review of drug effects, recent progress and new issues

This review gives an overview of recent findings and developments in research on brain mechanisms of reward and reinforcement from studies using the place preference conditioning paradigm, with emphasis on those studies that have been published within the last decade. Methodological issues of the paradigm (such as design of the conditioning apparatus, biased vs unbiased conditioning, state dependency effects) are discussed. Results from studies using systemic and local (intracranial) drug administration, natural reinforcers, and non-drug treatments and from studies examining the effects of lesions are presented. Papers reporting on conditioned place aversion (CPA) experiments are also included. A special emphasis is put on the issue of tolerance and sensitization to the rewarding properties of drugs. Transmitter systems that have been investigated with respect to their involvement in brain reward mechanisms include dopamine, opioids, acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, glutamate, substance P, and cholecystokinin, the motivational significance of which has been examined either directly, by using respective agonist or antagonist drugs, or indirectly, by studying the effects of these drugs on the reward induced by other drugs. For a number of these transmitters, detailed studies have been conducted to delineate the receptor subtype(s) responsible for the mediation of the observed drug effects, particularly in the case of dopamine, the opioids, serotonin and glutamate. Brain sites that have been implicated in the mediation of drug-induced place conditioning include the 'traditional' brain reward sites, ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, but the medial prefrontal cortex, ventral pallidum, amygdala and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus have also been shown to play important roles in the mediation of place conditioning induced by drugs or natural reinforcers. Thus, although the paradigm has also been criticized because of some inherent methodological problems, it is clear that during the past decade place preference conditioning has become a valuable and firmly established and very widely used tool in behavioural pharmacology and addiction research.

Continued trends in the conditioned place preference literature from 1992 to 1996, inclusive, with a cross-indexed bibliography

In light of the overwhelming response to the previous publication in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (1993, 17, 21-41) regarding trends in place conditioning (either preference or aversion), the present work constitutes a five-year follow-up to review the empirical research in this behavioral paradigm from 1992 to 1996, inclusively. The behavioral technique has grown as indicated by the number of publications over the last five years which equals those authored over the 35 years covered by our last survey. The previous work used descriptive statistics to explore topical issues, whereas the present work discusses trends since that time and hopes to provide an exhaustive bibliography of the CPP literature, including articles, published abstracts, book chapters and reviews, as well as providing a cross-index of identified key words/drugs tested.

Anxiolytic-like effect of combined extracts of Zingiber officinale and Ginkgo biloba in the elevated plus-maze

The effects of the known anxiolytic compound diazepam (DZ) on the behavior of rats in the elevated plus-maze were compared with those of zingicomb (ZC) (registered trademark of Mattern et Partner), a combination preparation of standardized extracts of Ginkgo biloba and Zingiber officinale. DZ was administered intraperitoneally (IP) in a reference dosage of 1 mg/kg 30 min before the rats were tested on the elevated plus-maze for 5 min. The treatment with DZ elevated the time spent on the open arms and excursions into the end of the open arms, increased scanning over the edge of an open arm, and decreased risk-assessment from an enclosed arm. ZC was administered intragastrically (IG) in four doses ranging between 0.5 and 100 mg/kg 60 min prior to plus-maze testing. The treatment with 0.5 mg/kg ZC elevated the time spent on the open arms and excursions into the end of the open arms; at the high dosage of 100 mg/kg, ZC led to fewer excursions to and less scanning of the open arms. Injection of 1 or 10 mg/kg ZC had no significant effect on the behavior in the maze. These data provide evidence that ZC has anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze comparable to those of DZ, but that in high dosage the phytopharmacon may also have anxiogenic properties. The anxiolytic-like effects of ZC are discussed with regard to the known antiserotonergic action of ginger and Ginkgo biloba.