Elsevier

Neuropharmacology

Volume 27, Issue 7, July 1988, Pages 749-756
Neuropharmacology

Reinforcing properties of substance P in the region of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis in rats

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Abstract

The conditioned place preference paradigm was used to assess the reinforcing properties of substance P, injected unilaterally into the region of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of rats. Over three baseline trials the rats spent more time in either the black (in most cases) or white compartment of the test box (i.e. preferred one compartment). On Day 4 the animals were injected with substance P (1 ng, 100 ng) or vehicle (0.5 μl) and placed into their non-preferred compartment for 10 min. On Day 5 the positive reinforcing effect of 1 ng substance P was reflected by an increase in the amount of time spent in the compartment in which substance P was administered, as well as by a reversal of the place preference shown during baseline trials. Thus, the injection of substance P into the region of the nucleus basalis may have reinforcing properties in addition to its memory promoting effects that were reported previously.

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