The present experiment examined the contribution of the β-adrenergic receptor system in mediating the unconditioned (i.e. pharmacological) and conditioned (i.e. learned) hyperactive effects of methamphetamine. To this end, mice underwent an 8-day conditioning procedure involving two different, alternating session types (chamber and home-cage days). On chamber days (1, 3, 5, and 7), mice were injected (intraperitoneally) with vehicle (dH2O) or propranolol (16 or 32 mg/kg) and were injected (subcutaneously) 30 min (min) later by either vehicle (saline; unpaired) or methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg; paired). On home-cage days (2, 4, 6, and 8), mice were injected (subcutaneously) with either vehicle (saline; paired) or methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg; unpaired) in their home cages. The test day for conditioned hyperactivity occurred 48 h after the last chamber day. Propranolol dose-dependently blocked the unconditioned and conditioned hyperactive effects of methamphetamine, implicating a role for the β-adrenergic system in mediating these effects of methamphetamine.

Rauhut, Anthony S. Propranolol Blocks the Unconditioned and Conditioned Hyperactive Effects of Methamphetamine in CD-1 Mice. Behavioural Pharmacology 34, no. 6 (2023): 375-379. https://journals.lww.com/behaviouralpharm/abstract/2023/09000/propranolol_blocks_the_unconditioned_and.7.aspx

Anthony Rauhut is a professor of Psychology at Dickinson College.

For more information on the published version, visit Wolters Kluwer Health's Website. https://journals.lww.com/behaviouralpharm/abstract/2023/09000/propranolol_blocks_the_unconditioned_and.7.aspx

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