Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, exendin-4, reduces reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior in rats

In this study, we used a reward devaluation model in which rats avoid ingesting a saccharin solution that predicts drug availability to test the effects of 2.4 μg/kg Ex-4 on responding for a natural reward cue (i.e., saccharin) and on cue- and drug-induced heroin seeking. The results showed that treatment with Ex-4 during the 16-day abstinence period and on the test day decreased cue-induced heroin seeking. Drug-induced heroin seeking also was reduced by Ex-4, but only when using a 1 h, but not a 6 h, pretreatment time. Treatment with Ex-4 did not alter intake of the saccharin cue when the drug was on board, but a history of treatment with Ex-4 increased acceptance of the saccharin cue in later extinction trials. Finally, treatment with Ex-4 did not alter body weight, but was associated with increased Orexin 1 receptor (OX1) mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens shell. Taken together, these findings are the first to show that treatment with a GLP-1R agonist can reduce both cue-induced seeking and drug-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. As such, a GLP-1R agonist may serve as an effective treatment for OUD in humans.
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research