Influence of sensitization on the discriminative stimulus effects of methylphenidate in mice

Behav Pharmacol. 2014 Dec;25(8):766-74. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000095.

Abstract

Methylphenidate (MPH) remains an important therapy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but aspects of its pharmacology remain unclear. In the present study, we used a regimen of MPH (8 mg/kg daily×14 days) in C57BL/6J mice to determine whether establishing locomotor sensitization to MPH influenced the acquisition and the dose-response function of MPH in a classic drug discrimination procedure. MPH-sensitized mice (SENS group) showed enhanced locomotor activity to the 8 mg/kg exposure dose as well as a 2 mg/kg dose before discrimination training. However, the SENS mice did not acquire discrimination of either a low dose (2 mg/kg) or a higher dose (4 mg/kg) of MPH any more rapidly than the CTRL mice. Further, during generalization testing, the dose-response functions for the SENS and CTRL mice were identical. Therefore, we did not find that previous exposure to MPH, which produced a sensitized locomotor response, facilitated MPH discrimination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects*
  • Discrimination, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Food Preferences / drug effects
  • Methylphenidate / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate