Effects of chronic caffeine pre-exposure on conditioned and unconditioned psychomotor activity induced by nicotine and amphetamine in rats

M. I. Palmatier, E. Y K Fung, Rick A. Bevins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three experiments examined the effects of chronic pre-exposure to caffeine on the subsequent conditioned and unconditioned locomotor activating effects of nicotine or amphetamine in rats. Rats were given daily intraperitoneal injections of caffeine anhydrous (0, 10 or 30 mg/kg base) for 30 days. Conditioning (environment-drug pairings) began after the last day of caffeine pre-exposure. Pre-exposure to 30 mg/kg of caffeine enhanced the acute and chronic locomotor effects of amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg). A similar enhancement of activity was not seen with the high (0.421 mg/kg base) or low dose (0.175 mg/kg) of nicotine. In a drug-free test, the distinct environment paired with amphetamine and the high dose of nicotine evoked increases in activity relative to controls. Caffeine pre-exposure did not affect expression of this conditioned hyperactivity. These effects of caffeine pre-exposure on amphetamine-induced activity could not be attributed to non-specific effects of caffeine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-198
Number of pages8
JournalBehavioural pharmacology
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine
  • Adenosine
  • Context
  • Cross-sensitization
  • Dopamine
  • Hyperactivity
  • Pavlovian conditioning
  • Rat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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