Blockade of the discriminative stimulus effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) by the GHB receptor antagonist NCS-382

Physiol Behav. 1995 Sep;58(3):587-90. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)00086-x.

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the ability of the newly synthetized, selective gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) receptor antagonist, NCS-382, in blocking the discriminative stimulus effects of GHB in a T-maze, food-reinforced drug discrimination procedure. Two groups of rats were trained to run the left arm of the maze 30 min after the i.g. administration of either 300 or 700 mg/kg GHB and the right arm after water. Once discrimination was acquired, combination of different doses of NCS-382 (0, 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, IP) and GHB training doses were tested for blockade of GHB discrimination. NCS-382 dose-dependently blocked GHB-appropriate responding in both the 300 and 700 mg/kg GHB rat groups. The results of the present study indicate that the discriminative stimulus properties of GHB are mediated via stimulation of GHB receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacology*
  • Appetitive Behavior / drug effects*
  • Benzocycloheptenes / pharmacology*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sodium Oxybate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sodium Oxybate / pharmacology

Substances

  • 4-hydroxybutyric acid receptor
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Benzocycloheptenes
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • NCS 382
  • Sodium Oxybate