A Single Exposure to Amphetamine Is Sufficient to Induce Long-Term Behavioral, Neuroendocrine, and Neurochemical Sensitization in Rats

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.19-21-09579.1999
• Publication Date: 2018-04-04T02:20:35Z
• Authors: Louk J. M. J. Van...; E. Donné Schmidt; Taco J. De Vries; Caroline A. P. Va...; Fred J.H. Tilders; Anton N. M. Schof...
• Keywords: Neurochemical; Behavioral sensitization

Repeated treatment with psychostimulant drugs causes long-lasting behavioral sensitization and associated neuroadaptations. Although induced by a single exposure has also been reported, information on the neurochemical consequences of is sparse. Therefore, to evaluate whether evoked repeated pretreatment regimens represent same neurobiological phenomenon, time-dependent expression behavioral, neurochemical, neuroendocrine after amphetamine was investigated in rats. A (5 mg/kg, i.p.) caused context-independent locomotor effects amphetamine, which intensified over time. Thus, marginal at 3 d more evident 1 week, whereas weeks treatment, profound sensitization, as well cross-sensitization, cocaine observed. Amphetamine an increase electrically release [ H]dopamine from nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, medial prefrontal cortex slices 14 C]acetylcholine accumbens slices. The hyperreactivity dopaminergic nerve terminals appeared parallel development i.e., increased between decreased. Pre-exposure sensitized hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis response weeks, but not treatment. Because these data closely resemble those reported previously for pretreatment, it concluded that sufficient induce long-term