The interaction of d-amphetamine and naloxone differs for rats trained on separate fixed-interval or fixed-ratio...

The effects of d-amphetamine and naloxone were investigated using two groups of rats trained on either an FR30 or F12 schedule of reinforcement. Amphetamine (0.1-1.0 mg/kg), and naloxone (1.0 and 10 mg/kg) administered separately reduced responding on the FR procedure in a dose-dependent manner. The combined administration of naloxone with amphetamine had an additive suppressive effect on responding. The same doses of amphetamine and naloxone, when given separately, did not significantly depress responding in the FI procedures. However, naloxone/amphetamine combinations produced a marked inhibition of lever-pressing. Naloxone did not alter the characteristic pattern of responding engendered by amphetamine in this schedule, as measured by the quarter-life and Index of Curvature. It appears that the type of procedure used is a critical factor in demonstrating the effects of naloxone on behavior, and the nature of naloxone/amphetamine interactions.