nor-BNI Antagonism of Kappa Opioid Agonist-Induced Reinstatement of Ethanol-Seeking Behavior

Figure 5

(a) nor-BNI attenuates U50,488-induced reinstatement of ethanol seeking. Rats () were trained to self-administer a 10% ethanol solution using standard operant procedures, and then lever pressing for ethanol was subsequently extinguished. Following extinction, rats were pretreated with saline 24 h prior to reinstatement testing. Prior to testing, rats received priming injections of U50,488 (0–1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and were tested for reinstatement of responding on the previously ethanol-associated lever. Over the next 6–8 days, test sessions were repeated every 3-4 days with rats experiencing extinction sessions daily between test days, and doses of U50,488 were given in an irregular order. After all doses of U50,488 were tested, rats were injected with the KOR antagonist nor-BNI (20 mg/kg, i.p.). 24 h later, rats were injected with a priming dose of U50,488 (0.1–1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline prior to testing. Over the next 6–8 days, test sessions were repeated as described. Data are expressed as the mean number of lever responses ± SEM during ethanol self-administration sessions. compared to saline-injected rats receiving the same dose of U50,488, Sidak’s test for multiple comparisons. (b) Responding on an inactive lever was measured as an indication of general motor activity. No effects on inactive lever responding were observed.

(a)

(b)