Intravenous buspirone self-administration in rhesus monkeys

Area of Science:

• Behavioral pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Drug abuse research

Background:

• Cocaine is a highly addictive substance with significant abuse potential.
• Understanding the reinforcing properties of psychoactive drugs is crucial for assessing abuse liability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reinforcing effects of buspirone, chlordiazepoxide, and clorazepate in a preclinical model.
• To assess the potential for recreational use and abuse liability of these compounds.

Main Methods:

• Rhesus monkeys were trained to self-administer intravenous cocaine.
• The effects of substituting saline with varying doses of buspirone, chlordiazepoxide, and clorazepate were assessed.
• Self-administration rates were compared to saline control levels.

Main Results:

• Buspirone did not significantly increase self-administration rates compared to saline.
• Chlordiazepoxide and clorazepate also failed to act as reinforcers under the tested conditions.
• None of the tested drugs exhibited reinforcing properties in this model.

Conclusions:

• Buspirone, chlordiazepoxide, and clorazepate demonstrate a lack of reinforcing effects in rhesus monkeys.
• These findings, combined with other preclinical data, suggest a low potential for recreational abuse of buspirone in humans.
• The study contributes to understanding the abuse liability of anxiolytic and other psychoactive compounds.