The AT1 Angiotensin II receptor blockade attenuates the development of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in a two injection protocol

PAZ, MC; ASSIS, MA; CABRERA, RJ; CANCELA, LM; BREGONZIO, C

SYNAPSE

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2011 vol. 65 p. 505 - 505

0887-4476

t has been shown that a single exposure to amphetamine is sufficientto induce long-term behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroendocrine sensitizationin rats. Dopaminergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens and the caudateputamenplays a critical role in the addictive properties of drugs of abuse. Angiotensin(Ang) II receptors are found on the soma and terminals of mesolimbic dopaminergicneurons and it has been shown that Ang II acting through its AT1 receptors facilitatesdopamine release. The hypothesis was tested that Ang II AT1 receptors are involvedin the neuroadaptative changes induced by a single exposure to amphetamine andthat such changes are related to the development of behavioral and neurochemicalsensitization. For this purpose, the study examined the expression of amphetamineenhanced(0.5 mg kg21 i.p.) locomotor activity in animals pretreated with candesartan,an AT1 blocker, (3 mg kg21 p.o 3 5 days), 3 weeks after an amphetamine injection(5 mg kg21 i.p.). Dopaminergic h