The Effects of the Naltrexone Implant on Rodent Social Interactions and Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference

Two experiments were conducted to determine the behavioral properties of the naltrexone implant on: 1) rodent social interactions; and 2) the appetitive properties of cocaine. Rats were surgically implanted with a naltrexone implant (placebo, 10 or 30 mg) and placed into an open field for the recording of social interactions. The naltrexone implants increased latency to initiate contact and decreased pinning, bouts of grooming, and crawl unders on all 7 days. Other rats were surgically implanted with naltrexone (60, 120, or 240 mg) and habituated to a two-chambered conditioned place preference apparatus. After 6 days of conditioning, place preference was computer recorded. Cocaine produced a dose-dependent conditioned place preference in the rats implanted with placebo or 60 mg of naltrexone. The 120 and 240 mg naltrexone implants blocked the emergence of cocaine-induced place preference. The results indicate that naltrexone implants produce significant social behavioral effects within 1 day, and are effective at attenuating the conditioned place preference produced by cocaine.