1. KCNQ2/3 channel agonist flupirtine reduces cocaine place preference in rats.
- Author
-
Mooney J and Rawls SM
- Subjects
- Aminopyridines metabolism, Animals, Central Nervous System Stimulants pharmacology, Cocaine pharmacology, Conditioning, Operant drug effects, Dopamine Agents pharmacology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, KCNQ3 Potassium Channel agonists, Locomotion drug effects, Male, Motor Activity drug effects, Rats, Receptors, Dopamine drug effects, Reward, Aminopyridines pharmacology, KCNQ3 Potassium Channel drug effects
- Abstract
The efficacy of KCNQ2/3 channel agonists against drug reward has not been defined despite their ability to reduce locomotor-stimulant and dopamine-activating effects of psychostimulants. We tested the hypothesis that flupirtine (FLU) (2.5, 10, 20 mg/kg), a KCNQ2/3 agonist, reduces cocaine (15 mg/kg) conditioned place preference. FLU (20 mg/kg), injected concurrently with cocaine during conditioning, reduced the development of cocaine conditioned place preference. FLU (20 mg/kg) also reduced cocaine locomotor activation without affecting baseline activity. The disruption of cocaine place preference by FLU suggests that KCNQ2/3 channels influence cocaine's rewarding effects.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF