A single injection of a novel κ opioid receptor agonist salvinorin A attenuates the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats.
Aashish S Morani, Susan Schenk, Thomas E Prisinzano, Bronwyn Maree Kivell
Behavioural Pharmacology April 2012 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e3283512c1e (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study in rats Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | Salvinorin A cocaine |
| Dose | 0.3 mg/kg |
| Measures | forced swim test, conditioned taste aversion, spontaneous locomotion, cocaine sensitization |
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Key findings | Salvinorin A at 0.3 mg/kg attenuated the expression of cocaine sensitization in rats without affecting spontaneous locomotion or producing conditioned taste aversion, unlike traditional kappa opioid agonists. However, it decreased climbing and swimming and increased immobility in the forced swim test, indicating prodepressive effects that the authors suggest may limit its therapeutic potential. |
Abstract
Kappa opioid receptor (KOPr) activation antagonizes many cocaine-related behaviors but adverse side-effects such as sedation, dysphoria, and depression limit their therapeutic use. Recently, salvinorin A (Sal A), a naturally occurring KOPr agonist, has been shown to attenuate cocaine-induced drug seeking in a model of relapse in rats. The present study evaluated the effects of acute Sal A exposure on cocaine-induced hyperactivity and cocaine sensitization in rats. Acute treatment with a dose of Sal A that decreased drug seeking in a previous study (0.3 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the expression of cocaine sensitization. This dose of Sal A failed to affect spontaneous locomotion or to produce a conditioned taste aversion to a novel-tasting saccharin solution. However, Sal A decreased climbing and swimming time and increased time spent immobile in the forced swim test. These findings indicate that Sal A, just like traditional KOPr agonists, attenuates cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization but does not produce the adverse effect of conditioned aversion, suggesting improved potential compliance. However, prodepressive effects were also produced and these effects may limit the therapeutic potential.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of the plant-derived hallucinogen salvinorin A on basal dopamine levels in the caudate putamen and in a conditioned place aversion assay in mice: agonist actions at kappa opioid receptors. Mice | 2005 | Experimental study | |
| Potential anxiolytic‐ and antidepressant‐like effects of salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rodents Male Sprague-Dawley rats and male Albino Swiss mice | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Involvement of kappa-opioid and endocannabinoid system on Salvinorin A-induced reward. Wistar rats | 2008 | Experimental study | |
| Role of kappa-opioid receptors in the effects of salvinorin A and ketamine on attention in rats. Rats | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| The plant-derived hallucinogen, salvinorin A, produces kappa-opioid agonist-like discriminative effects in rhesus monkeys. Rhesus monkeys | 2004 | Experimental study | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 16
- Dose-related behavioral, subjective, endocrine, and psychophysiological effects of the κ opioid agonist Salvinorin A in humans. Biological Psychiatry November 15, 2012
- Biosynthesis of the psychotropic plant diterpene salvinorin A: Discovery and characterization of the Salvia divinorum clerodienyl diphosphate synthase The Plant Journal November 19, 2016
- Classic and non‐classic psychedelics for substance use disorder: A review of their historic, past and current research Addiction Neuroscience June 22, 2022
- Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist Mesyl Sal B Attenuates Behavioral Sensitization to Cocaine with Fewer Aversive Side-Effects than Salvinorin A in Rodents. Molecules October 11, 2018
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Salvinorin A and Salvia divinorum: Clinical and Forensic Aspects Pharmaceuticals February 3, 2021
and 11 more in the library
Cites 26
- Effects of the plant-derived hallucinogen salvinorin A on basal dopamine levels in the caudate putamen and in a conditioned place aversion assay in mice: agonist actions at kappa opioid receptors. Psychopharmacology May 1, 2005
- Ethnopharmacology of ska María Pastora (Salvia divinorum, Epling and Játiva-M.). Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 1, 1983
- Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1994
- Potential anxiolytic‐ and antidepressant‐like effects of salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rodents British Journal of Pharmacology May 5, 2009
- Human psychopharmacology and dose-effects of salvinorin A, a kappa opioid agonist hallucinogen present in the plant Salvia divinorum. Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 1, 2011
and 21 more in the library