Effect of footshock stress on place conditioning produced by Δ
Unlike other drugs of abuse, Δ We evaluate the potential of footshock stress to enhance the rewarding effects of THC and the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, URB597, as it has been shown to enhance their anxiolytic effects. The effect of footshock stress 24 h prior to each conditioning trial on the rewardingaversive effects of THC (1, 0.1, 0.5 mgkg, ip) and URB597 (0.3 mgkg, ip) was evaluated in an unbiased place conditioning procedure in rats. Subsequently, the same stressor was given immediately prior to conditioning with THC (1 and 0.1 mgkg). Locomotor activity was also measured during conditioning. A dose of 1 mgkg THC, but not 0.1-0.5 mgkg, produced a conditioned place aversion (CPA) that was not modified by footshock delivered 24 h prior to conditioning trials however, footshock delivered immediately prior to conditioning trials prevented that CPA. Lower doses of THC and URB597 produced no place conditioning regardless of footshock conditions. A dose of 1 mgkg THC produced locomotor suppression during conditioning trials that was prevented by footshock delivered 24 h before and reversed to locomotor activation by footshock delivered immediately before conditioning. Unlike the effect of footshock on THC- and URB597-induced anxiolytic effects, footshock does not promote THC or URB597-induced reward in a conditioned place preference paradigm. However, footshock stress reverses the sedative effects of 1 mgkg THC.