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Ketamine self-administration in the rat: evidence for a critical role of setting

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 22:57 authored by Maria Teresa De Luca, Aldo Badiani
RATIONALE The abuse of ketamine has been reported to be on the rise over the past 15 years, but its abuse appears to be limited almost exclusively to the context of music and dance settings, indicating a major role of context in modulating its reinforcing effects. We have previously reported that amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin self-administration (SA) in the rat are differentially influenced by the setting in which testing takes place. The aim of the present study is to extend this pre-clinical model to ketamine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Independent groups of rats with intravenous catheters were given the possibility to self-administer different doses of ketamine (125, 250, and 500 µg/kg per infusion) under two environmental conditions. Some animals were housed in the SA chambers (resident rats) whereas other rats were transported to the SA chambers only for the test sessions (non-resident rats). After training, within-subject dose effect curves (125, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/kg per infusion) and break-point (during a progressive ratio session) were calculated. RESULTS Non-resident rats readily acquired ketamine self-administration. In contrast, resident rats self-administered only the highest dose of ketamine (500 µg/kg), but still four times less than non-resident rats (11.0 ± 6.0 vs 44.4 ± 5.2 infusions during the last training session). No significant differences in break-point were found during the progressive ratio session. CONCLUSIONS The present study confirms at a preclinical level the importance of setting for ketamine SA and further validates a previously described animal model of drug-environment interaction.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Psychopharmacology

ISSN

1432-2072

Publisher

Springer

Issue

2

Volume

214

Page range

549-556

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-10-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-10-28

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