Effects of Bupropion and Naltrexone on the Discriminative Stimulus Effects Produced by 22 Hours Food Deprivation

Abstract

Bupropion inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine transporters and is clinically used to treat depression and as a smoking cessation aid. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist and is clinically used to treat opioid and alcohol dependence. Studies show that bupropion decreases food intake in rats (Zarrindast, Hosseini-Nia, 1988). Naltrexone has also been shown to decrease food intake in rats (Kirkham, Blundell, 1987). Bupropion in combination with naltrexone decreases food intake in rats (Clapper, Athanacio, Wittmer, Griffin, D'Souza, Parkes, & Roth, 2013). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bupropion, naltrexone, and combinations of bupropion and naltrexone in non-restricted rats trained to discriminate between 22- and 2-hr food deprivation to gain better understanding of neurochemicals mediating the discriminative stimulus e ects of 22-hr food deprivation.