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Maintenance and reinstatement of THC self‐administration behavior under a second‐order schedule of reinforcement in squirrel monkeys
Author(s) -
Goldberg Steven R,
Munzar Patrik,
Tanda Gianluigi,
Redhi Godfrey H,
Justinova Zuzana
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a409-b
Subject(s) - self administration , rimonabant , extinction (optical mineralogy) , pharmacology , reinforcement , cannabinoid , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , cannabinoid receptor , squirrel monkey , session (web analytics) , schedule , psychology , cannabidiol , antagonist , anesthesia , medicine , chemistry , neuroscience , cannabis , receptor , computer science , psychiatry , social psychology , mineralogy , world wide web , operating system
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an effective reinforcer of i.v. self‐administration behavior in squirrel monkeys when THC is available under a simple 10‐response fixed‐ratio (FR10) schedule. We have now studied THC self‐administration under a more complex, second‐order, fixed‐interval (FI) schedule of i.v. injection with FR10 components. Under this schedule, each FR10 completed during a 30‐min FI produced only a brief light. The first FR10 completed after 30 min produced the light paired with i.v. injection of THC. An advantage of this schedule is that drug‐seeking behavior during the session occurs in the absence of direct pharmacological effects of drug (THC). Responding was well maintained by THC and markedly reduced either by substitution of vehicle for THC or by pre‐session treatment with the selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant ( SR141716 ). Responding was also markedly reduced by removal of brief‐light presentations during the session. Thus, reinforcing effects of THC, like those of nicotine, may critically depend on drug‐associated environmental stimuli. During vehicle‐extinction sessions, repeated reintroduction of brief light presentations, as well as i.v. administration of THC, anandamide or morphine, but not cocaine, before the session induced a marked reinstatement of drug‐seeking behavior during the session. Supported by IRP of NIDA, NIH, DHHS.