Altered responsiveness to cocaine in rats exposed to methylphenidate during development

Nat Neurosci. 2002 Jan;5(1):13-4. doi: 10.1038/nn777.

Abstract

Evidence in laboratory animals indicates that exposure to stimulants produces sensitization to their rewarding effects, a process that in humans would be expected to increase the risk of substance abuse. However, therapeutic administration of stimulants such as methylphenidate (MPH) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reportedly reduces the risk of substance abuse. Here we show in rats that exposure to MPH during pre-adolescence causes behavioral and neurobiological adaptations that endure into adulthood, and that are consistent with increased sensitivity to the aversive effects of cocaine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Adult
  • Aging / physiology
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Methylphenidate / pharmacology*
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects
  • Nucleus Accumbens / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism
  • Reward
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Methylphenidate
  • Cocaine
  • glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2