Activation of serotonin 5-HT(2C) receptor suppresses behavioral sensitization and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in heroin-treated mice.
Neurosci Lett
; 607: 23-28, 2015 Oct 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26375926
ABSTRACT
Abuse and dependence to heroin has evolved into a global epidemic as a significant clinical and societal problem with devastating consequences. Repeated exposure to heroin can induce long-lasting behavioral sensitization and withdrawal. Pharmacological activation of 5-HT2C receptors (5-HT2CRs) suppresses psychostimulant-induced drug-seeking and behavioral sensitization. The present study examined the effect of a selective 5-HT2CR agonist lorcaserin on behavioral sensitization and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in heroin-treated mice. Male mice received heroin (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) twice a day for 3 days and then drug treatment was suspended for 5 days. On day 9, a challenge dose of heroin (1.0 mg/kg) was administered to examine the expression of behavioral sensitization. Lorcaserin administered during the development, withdrawal or expression stage suppressed heroin-induced behavioral sensitization on day 9. Another cohort of mice received increasing doses of heroin over a 4.5-day period. Lorcaserin, or the positive control clonidine (an α2-adrenoceptor agonist) suppressed naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in heroin-treated mice. These findings suggest that activation of 5-HT2CRs suppresses behavioral sensitization and withdrawal in heroin-treated mice. Thus, pharmacological activation of 5-HT2CRs may represent a new avenue for the treatment of heroin addiction.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
/
Behavior, Animal
/
Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
/
Heroin
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Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists
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Central Nervous System Stimulants
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Naloxone
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Neurosci Lett
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China