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Summary
Adjunctive drinking in rats was disrupted by d-amphetamine, despite efforts to increase consumption. These findings suggest d-amphetamine directly limits drug intake via drinking behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
Background:
- Adjunctive drinking is a behavior observed in food-deprived animals under intermittent reinforcement schedules.
- D-amphetamine is a psychostimulant drug with known effects on behavior and consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of d-amphetamine on adjunctive drinking behavior in rats.
- To explore the potential of adjunctive drinking as a method for self-administering d-amphetamine.
- To examine the interaction between d-amphetamine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT) on drinking behavior.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained to exhibit adjunctive drinking.
- d-amphetamine sulfate solution was substituted for water, and consumption was monitored.
- Injections of d-amphetamine and AMPT were administered at various doses.
- Drinking levels were measured under different experimental conditions.
Main Results:
- d-amphetamine disrupted adjunctive drinking, particularly towards the end of sessions, despite consistent daily intake.
- AMPT increased d-amphetamine solution consumption.
- Higher doses of d-amphetamine reduced water consumption, an effect partially counteracted by AMPT pretreatment.
- AMPT alone showed a slight reduction in drinking levels.
Conclusions:
- Adjunctive drinking can induce self-administration of d-amphetamine in rats.
- The amount of d-amphetamine consumed is limited by the drug's direct action on drinking behavior.
- Pharmacological manipulations, such as with AMPT, can influence d-amphetamine intake in this paradigm.