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Dose-effect functions for cocaine self-administration: effects of schedule and dosing procedure
G M Sizemore1, T M Gaspard, S A Kim
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Procedural variables significantly impact cocaine self-administration dose-effect functions in rats. Different experimental conditions, like fixed-ratio schedules, alter how rats respond to varying cocaine doses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
Background:
- Limited research exists on how procedural variables influence dose-effect functions for cocaine self-administration.
- Understanding these variables is crucial for interpreting cocaine's behavioral effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of procedural variables on dose-effect functions for cocaine self-administration in rats.
- To clarify the role of different reinforcement schedules and dosing procedures.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine under variable-interval (VI) or fixed-ratio (FR) schedules.
- Both free-operant and discrete-trial FR schedules were examined.
- Dose-effect functions were determined by dose substitution, sustained exposure, or within-session dose variation.
Main Results:
- Dose-effect functions were bitonic under VI and discrete-trial FR schedules, but decreasing under free-operant FR.
- Low doses maintained responding under FR when substituted, but not when presented daily.
- Response rates at specific doses varied depending on whether doses were presented individually or within a range.
Conclusions:
- Procedural variables, including reinforcement schedules and dosing methods, demonstrably alter dose-response curves for cocaine self-administration.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering experimental context when studying drug self-administration.