Involvement of Glutamate NMDA Receptors in the Acute, Long-Term, and Conditioned Effects of Amphetamine on Rat 50 kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rats emit 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to either natural or pharmacological pleasurable stimuli, and these USVs have emerged as a new behavioral measure for investigating the motivational properties of drugs. Earlier studies have indicated that activation of the dopaminergic system is critically involved in 50 kHz USV emissions. However, evidence also exists that non-dopaminergic neurotransmitters participate in this behavioral response.

Methods

To ascertain whether glutamate transmission plays a role in 50 kHz USV emissions stimulated by amphetamine, rats received five amphetamine (1-2mg/kg, i.p.) administrations on alternate days in a test cage, either alone or combined with the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.1

SUBMITTER: Costa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4756726 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature