Orphanin FQ/nociceptin blocks methamphetamine place preference in rats

Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (NOC) has been reported to regulate dopaminergic neurotransmission in rewarding pathway, and to suppress the development of conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by certain addictive drugs. In this study, we investigated the effect of NOC on CPP induced by repeated administration of methamphetamine (MAP) in rats. Repeated administration of MAP (1 mg/kg, i.p.) induced substantial CPP. MAP-induced CPP was completely suppressed by NOC (10 nmol, i.c.v.). Pretreatment with [Nphe1]nociceptin(1-13)NH2 (50 nmol, i.c.v.), an antagonist of the NOC receptor, antagonized the suppressive effect of NOC on MAP-induced CPP. These results suggest that NOC blocks MAP-induced CPP by activation of the NOC receptor.