The role of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors in cocaine-induced conditioned place preference.

Effects of buprenorphine, U-50,488H, naltrexone and lithium chloride on cocaine conditioned place preference were examined. Buprenorphine, a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, blocked the cocaine-induced place preference. Furthermore, the kappa-receptor agonist U-50,488H and the mu-receptor antagonist naltrexone both antagonized the cocaine preference. U-50,488H or naltrexone alone induced a place aversion in a dose-dependent manner. However, the cocaine-induced conditioned place preference was not blocked by lithium chloride, although the latter induced a conditioned place aversion, indicating that the antagonism of cocaine-induced place preference by U-50,488H or naltrexone does not result from a functional antagonism. These results suggest that mu- and kappa-opioid receptors may be involved in cocaine-induced conditioned place preference.