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Mirtazapine prevents induction and expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats.

Mirtazapine prevents induction and expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats.

Authors :
Salazar-Juárez A
Barbosa-Méndez S
Jurado N
Hernández-Miramontes R
Leff P
Antón B
Source :
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry [Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry] 2016 Jul 04; Vol. 68, pp. 15-24. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Feb 26.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Cocaine abuse is a major health problem worldwide. Treatment based on both 5-HT2A/C and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists attenuate not only the effects of cocaine abuse but also the incentive/motivational effect related to cocaine-paired cues. Mirtazapine, an antagonist of postsynaptic α2-adrenergic, 5-HT2A/C and 5HT3 receptors and inverse agonist of the 5-HT2C receptor, has been shown to effectively modify, at the preclinical and clinical levels, various behavioral alterations induced by drugs abuse. Therefore, it is important to assess whether chronic dosing of mirtazapine alters locomotor effects of cocaine as well as induction and expression of cocaine sensitization. Our results reveal that a daily mirtazapine regimen administered for 30days effectively induces a significant attenuation of cocaine-dependent locomotor activity and as well as the induction and expression of behavioral sensitization. These results suggest that mirtazapine may be used as a potentially effective therapy to attenuate induction and expression of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1878-4216
Volume :
68
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
26922897
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.02.010