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Research ArticleBEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY

The Role of GABAB Receptors in the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of γ-Hydroxybutyrate in Rats: Time Course and Antagonism Studies

Lawrence P. Carter, Lauren R. Flores, Huifang Wu, Weibin Chen, Andrew W. Unzeitig, Andy Coop and Charles P. France
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics May 2003, 305 (2) 668-674; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.102.047860
Lawrence P. Carter
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Lauren R. Flores
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Huifang Wu
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Weibin Chen
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Andrew W. Unzeitig
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Andy Coop
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Charles P. France
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Abstract

γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a neurotransmitter in brain and an emerging drug of abuse, although its mechanism of action is poorly understood. This study characterized the role of GABAA, GABAB, and other receptors in the discriminative stimulus effects of GHB. Eight rats reliably discriminated 200 mg/kg GHB from saline after a median of 35 (range: 23–41) training sessions. GHB, a metabolic precursor 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDL), and the GABABagonist (±)baclofen all occasioned greater than 83% responding on the GHB lever. The onset of action was similar for GHB and 1,4-BDL; however, 1,4-BDL exhibited a longer duration of action than GHB. The GHB precursor γ-butyrolactone, the benzodiazepine diazepam, the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone, the opioid agonist morphine, and theN-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist ketamine elicited substantial GHB-appropriate responding, although none occasioned greater than 66% drug-lever responding. The barbiturate pentobarbital and the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol did not occasion greater than 17% drug-lever responding at any dose tested. The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil attenuated GHB-lever responding occasioned by diazepam, but not GHB. The GABABreceptor antagonist CGP 35348 antagonized GHB-lever responding occasioned by baclofen or GHB. Small doses of the purported GHB receptor antagonist (2E)-(5-hydroxy-5,7,8,9-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[a][7]annulen-6-ylidene ethanoic acid (NCS-382) attenuated partially the effects of GHB, whereas larger doses of NCS-382 alone occasioned partial GHB-lever responding. These results implicate GABAB mechanisms in the discriminative stimulus effects of GHB and further suggest that the effects of 1,4-BDL under these conditions result from its conversion to GHB. That NCS-382 shares effects with GHB could explain the lack of antagonism reported for NCS-382 in some studies.

Footnotes

  • These studies were supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant DA14986. C.P.F. is supported by a Research Career Award (DA00211).

  • DOI: 10.1124/jpet.102.047860

  • Abbreviations:
    GHB
    γ-hydroxybutyrate
    GABA
    γ-aminobutyric acid
    1,4-BDL
    1,4-butanediol
    GBL
    γ-butyrolactone
    CGP 35348
    (3-aminopropyl) (diethoxymethyl)phosphinic acid
    NCS-382
    (2E)-(5-hydroxy-5,7,8,9-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[a][7]annulen-6-ylidene ethanoic acid
    FR
    fixed ratio
    PCP
    phencyclidine
    PT
    pretreatment
    • Received December 8, 2002.
    • Accepted January 31, 2003.
  • The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: 305 (2)
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Vol. 305, Issue 2
1 May 2003
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Research ArticleBEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY

The Role of GABAB Receptors in the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of γ-Hydroxybutyrate in Rats: Time Course and Antagonism Studies

Lawrence P. Carter, Lauren R. Flores, Huifang Wu, Weibin Chen, Andrew W. Unzeitig, Andy Coop and Charles P. France
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics May 1, 2003, 305 (2) 668-674; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.102.047860

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Research ArticleBEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY

The Role of GABAB Receptors in the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of γ-Hydroxybutyrate in Rats: Time Course and Antagonism Studies

Lawrence P. Carter, Lauren R. Flores, Huifang Wu, Weibin Chen, Andrew W. Unzeitig, Andy Coop and Charles P. France
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics May 1, 2003, 305 (2) 668-674; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.102.047860
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