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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
The NK(1) receptor antagonist WIN51708 reduces sensitization after chronic cocaine
Colin Davidson1, Tong H Lee, Everett H Ellinwood
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710, USA. colda@duke.edu
Abstract:
We tested the tachykinin NK(1) receptor antagonist WIN51708 (17betahydroxy17alphaethynyl5alphaandrostanol[3,2b]pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole) in a behavioral sensitization model. Rats were given 7 days of cocaine then 7 days of withdrawal to induce sensitization. Thereafter, another 7 days of cocaine with WIN51708 (2 mg/kg i.p.) given 3.5 h after each cocaine injection was given. WIN51708 reversed sensitization but had no effect on controls. NK(1) receptor antagonists may have use in stimulant abuse and schizophrenia treatment.
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