Neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibition decreases cocaine self-administration behavior in rats

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002 Feb;159(4):361-9. doi: 10.1007/s00213-001-0935-8. Epub 2001 Nov 20.

Abstract

Rationale: Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been shown to alter behaviors related to cocaine addiction, including its self-administration. However, previous studies have largely used mixed-action NOS inhibitors and have not examined the effects of a neuronal NOS inhibitor on cocaine self-administration.

Objectives: Pretreatment with the neuronal NOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) was used and its effects on cocaine self-administration were compared with those produced by pretreatment with an indirect dopamine receptor agonist (cocaine) and a D(1)-like dopamine receptor antagonist (SCH 23390).

Methods: Rats were trained to self-administer 1 mg/kg cocaine under a second-order schedule of drug delivery, which measures drug-seeking behavior independently from drug intake. Pretreatment with various doses of 7-NI, cocaine, and SCH 23390 were tested in combination with the training dose of cocaine followed by studies examining the effects of a selected dose of each pretreatment drug in combination with a range of cocaine doses. Other rats were trained under a second-order schedule of food pellet delivery and pretreated with 7-NI, cocaine, or SCH 23390 to determine the behavioral specificity of the effects of these drugs for cocaine-maintained responding.

Results: The results demonstrated that 7-NI reduced responses maintained by the cocaine training dose and produced a downward shift in the cocaine dose-response curve. Changes in drug intake were minor by comparison. Cocaine pretreatment produced effects similar to 7-NI, while the changes observed after SCH 23390 pretreatment were different from 7-NI and cocaine. The reductions in cocaine-maintained responding after 7-NI pretreatment were behaviorally specific because there was no effect of 7-NI on food-maintained responding within the dose range examined.

Conclusions: By selectively reducing drug-seeking behavior, these data suggest that 7-NI may enhance the reinforcing effects of cocaine.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Addictive / drug therapy*
  • Behavior, Addictive / enzymology*
  • Behavior, Addictive / psychology
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Indazoles / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Self Administration / psychology

Substances

  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Indazoles
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Nos1 protein, rat
  • Cocaine
  • 7-nitroindazole