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Conditioned taste aversion and place preference with buspirone and gepirone
J L Neisewander1, S A McDougall, S L Bowling
1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
New anxiolytics buspirone and gepirone show stronger aversive and rewarding effects than diazepam, suggesting potential abuse liability similar to other drugs. Buspirone also increased dopamine synthesis in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics like buspirone and gepirone are used to treat anxiety.
- Their abuse potential and aversive properties compared to traditional benzodiazepines like diazepam are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the aversive and rewarding properties of buspirone and gepirone with diazepam.
- To investigate the potential abuse liability of these nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics.
Main Methods:
- Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigms were used.
- Dopamine (DA) synthesis in the nucleus accumbens was measured.
Main Results:
- Buspirone and gepirone induced stronger conditioned taste aversion than diazepam.
- Both buspirone and gepirone produced conditioned place preference, with buspirone being more potent.
- Buspirone, but not gepirone, increased dopamine synthesis in the nucleus accumbens.
Conclusions:
- Buspirone and gepirone exhibit affective properties similar to abused drugs, indicating potential for abuse.
- These findings highlight differences in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics and diazepam.