Cocaine reward models: Conditioned place preference can be established in dopamine- and in serotonin-transporter knockout mice

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.13.7699
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:40:11Z
• Authors: Ichiro Sora; Christine Wichems; Nobuyuki Takahashi; Xiao-Fei Li; Zhizhen Zeng; Randal Revay; Klaus-Peter Lesch; Dennis L. Murphy; George R. Uhl
• Keywords: Conditioned place preference; Knockout mouse; Norepinephrine transporter

Cocaine and methylphenidate block uptake by neuronal plasma membrane transporters for dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine. also blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, a property not shared methylphenidate. Several lines of evidence have suggested that cocaine blockade the dopamine transporter (DAT), perhaps with additional contributions from serotonin (5-HTT) recognition, was key to its rewarding actions. We now report knockout mice without DAT 5-HTT establish cocaine-conditioned place preferences. Each strain displays preference in this major mouse model assessing drug reward, while methylphenidate-conditioned is maintained mice. These results substantial implications understanding actions strategies produce anticocaine medications.