Faculty Collaboration Database

Levo-tetrahydropalmatine attenuates cocaine self-administration and cocaine-induced reinstatement in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2007 Jul;192(4):581-91

Date

03/16/2007

Pubmed ID

17361394

DOI

10.1007/s00213-007-0754-7

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34249869292 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   84 Citations

Abstract

RATIONALE: Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) is an alkaloid constituent of plants from the botanical genera Corydalis and Stephania and is contained in many traditional Chinese herbal preparations. In addition to its low-affinity antagonism of D2 dopamine (DA) receptors, we report that l-THP functions as a higher-affinity antagonist at D1 DA receptors and interacts with D3 DA receptors, suggesting that it may be effective for the treatment of drug addiction. Accordingly, l-THP has been reported to reduce heroin craving and relapse in recovering addicts.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of l-THP (3.75, 7.5, and 15.0 mg/kg, i.p.) on cocaine self-administration (SA) and cocaine-induced reinstatement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine and food by pressing separate response levers during sessions consisting of a multiple schedule of alternating 30-min FR4 cocaine and 15-min FR4 food reinforcement. During the cocaine components of each session, the available cocaine dose varied such that rats had access to low and high dose ranges in varying sequence on alternating days. After SA, cocaine-reinforced responding was extinguished, and effects of l-THP on cocaine-induced reinstatement (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were examined.

RESULTS: l-THP produced a rightward and downward shift in the dose-response curve for cocaine SA and attenuated cocaine-induced reinstatement. l-THP also reduced food-reinforced responding and locomotor activity. However, reductions in cocaine SA were found at doses that failed to alter food-reinforced responding, and significant effects were not observed on food responding during reinstatement.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that l-THP is potentially useful for treating cocaine addiction.

Author List

Mantsch JR, Li SJ, Risinger R, Awad S, Katz E, Baker DA, Yang Z

Author

John Mantsch PhD Chair, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Berberine Alkaloids
Cocaine
Cocaine-Related Disorders
Conditioning, Operant
Corydalis
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Male
Motor Activity
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Dopamine D1
Receptors, Dopamine D3
Recurrence
Self Administration
Stephania
Stereoisomerism