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Evaluation of the conditioned reinforcing effects of phentermine and fenfluramine in the rat: Concordance with clinical studies
Author(s) -
Rea William P.,
Rothman Richard B.,
Shippenberg Toni S.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2396(199809)30:1<107::aid-syn13>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - fenfluramine , phentermine , conditioned place preference , conditioning , pharmacology , neurochemical , hypophagia , psychology , chemistry , medicine , addiction , neuroscience , body weight , epilepsy , serotonin , statistics , receptor , mathematics , topiramate
An unbiased place‐preference conditioning procedure was used to characterize the conditioned reinforcing effects of phentermine (PHEN), fenfluramine (FEN), and their combination (PHEN/FEN) in previously drug‐naive rats. Animals exhibited marked preferences for an environment previously associated with the administration of phentermine. The minimum dose producing a significant effect was 3.0 mg/kg. In contrast, FEN produced dose‐related place aversions. In animals which received a subthreshold dose of FEN in combination with a dose of PHEN that produced a conditioned place preference, no preference or aversion for the drug‐paired place was seen. Similarly, no significant conditioning in response to administration of PHEN (3.0 mg/kg) and FEN (3.0 mg/kg) was seen. The failure of PHEN/FEN to produce conditioned reinforcing effects is in line with recent clinical studies, and suggests that PHEN/FEN and drug combinations sharing the same neurochemical mechanisms of action will have low potential for abuse. Synapse 30:107–111, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.