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Cocaethylene produces conditioned place preference in rats
1Department of Pharmacology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown 44272-0095, USA.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Cocaethylene, a cocaine and ethanol byproduct, induced a conditioned place preference in rats. This indicates cocaethylene possesses rewarding properties, influencing behavior after concurrent drug use.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Concurrent use of cocaine and ethanol is common.
- Cocaethylene is a pharmacologically active metabolite formed in vivo.
- Understanding cocaethylene's psychoactive effects is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rewarding or aversive properties of cocaethylene.
- To determine if cocaethylene produces conditioned place preference or aversion in rats.
Main Methods:
- Male rats received 10 mg/kg cocaethylene or saline.
- Conditioned place preference/aversion testing was conducted.
- Behavioral shifts were assessed in a drug-free state.
Main Results:
- Rats receiving cocaethylene and confined to their nonpreferred side showed increased time spent on that side.
- No significant preference or aversion shifts were observed in rats conditioned on their preferred side or saline-treated controls.
- Cocaethylene demonstrated a conditioned place preference.
Conclusions:
- Cocaethylene exhibits rewarding effects, leading to conditioned place preference.
- These findings highlight the psychoactive potential of cocaethylene in humans using cocaine and ethanol concurrently.
- The rewarding activity of cocaethylene contributes to its abuse liability.