A single, extinction-based treatment with a kappa opioid receptor agonist elicits a long-term reduction in cocaine relapse.

ABSTRACT: Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists have known anti-addiction properties and can reduce drug seeking. Their potential for clinical use has largely been daunted by their aversive properties mediated through p38 MAPK signaling. Here we examined the therapeutic potential of the KOR agonist U50,488 (U50) to reduce cocaine seeking in a self-administration model. Following cocaine self-administration and 7 days of forced home-cage abstinence, rats were administered a single dose of U50 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the first extinction training session, wherein cocaine and the discrete cocaine-paired cues were no longer available. U50 reduced cocaine seeking on this first extinction session, but did not alter extinction training over subsequent days. 2 weeks after U50 treatment, rats underwen

SUBMITTER: Heinsbroek JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5983548 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature