Trazodone reduces sign-tracking but not goal-tracking in male Sprague Dawley rats

Sign-tracking refers to interaction with or approach of an appetitive conditioned stimulus (CS) and is a behavior with implications for cue-induced relapse in those in rehabilitation from drug use. Pharmacological options for reducing sign-tracking may therefore be of use in rehabilitative efforts. Trazodone is a commonly employed antidepressant drug with effects on serotonin, adrenergic and histamine receptors. Previously our laboratory has found that serotonergic antidepressants reduced sign-tracking; as such, we hypothesized that trazodone would reduce aspects of sign-tracking. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in a basic sign-tracking task and were intraperitoneally administered trazodone or vehicle during drug testing. It was shown that trazodone administration significantly reduced sign-tracking probability and total number of responses (the second in sign-trackers only) and increased latency to sign-track, without affecting measures of goal-tracking. Trazodone may have some benefits in reducing sign-tracking and thereby lowering the chance of cue-induced relapse in persons attempting rehabilitation from drug use.