The conditioned place preference paradigm in rats: effect of bupropion

The effect of bupropion in the conditioned place preference paradigm in rats is described. In doses between 10 and 50 mg/kg i.p. bupropion increased the time rats spent in a shuttle box compartment conditioned to this compound. This effect of bupropion was not blocked by pretreatment of the animals with 0.1 mg/kg i.p. haloperidol or 50 mg/kg i.p. sulpiride. The same doses of the neuroleptics did, however, attenuate locomotor hyperactivity induced by bupropion. Bupropion thus seems to belong to the group of CNS stimulants whose effect in the conditioned place preference paradigm is not blocked by neuroleptics.