Evaluating drugs and their impact is an important part of drug development research. It allows scientists to understand the mechanisms underlying certain drugs and contributes to the development of safe and effective treatments for many health conditions and diseases.
Although difficult, analyzing the time profiles of drugs is a common practice in drug discovery to monitor the relationship between the drug ingested and any side effects or abnormal laboratory test results.1 An ideal method to assess these profiles in rodent subjects is to use conditioned place preference systems (CPP).
This article explores how this works and what benefits it offers for drug discovery.
What are CPP systems?
CPP systems are used to condition animals to associate a specific environment with the effects of a drug, leading to a preference for that environment. These systems can be manufactured in various designs and devices to meet specific research needs. Floor textures and other contextual clues help establish the association between the drug and the environment.
Animals show a preference for the drug-paired environment during the conditioning phase by spending more time in it. Some CCP systems are sound deadening to block out any external noise that might distract the rodents, although not all systems have this feature.
Relapse in laboratory animals can be measured by drug-associated environmental cues that trigger seeking behavior and provide deeper insight into their responses to drug-related stimuli. By accurately measuring chamber entrances and using a database system, scientists can record the subject’s every movement, allowing for accurate data analysis and interpretation.
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Assessing the temporal profiles of drugs with a CPP
CPP is an important instrument in behavioral science, pharmacological and neuroscientific research. It allows scientists to assess the rewarding properties of drugs and investigate the mechanisms behind drug addiction.
Scientists have studied the rewarding properties of morphine using CPP systems. In this study, rodents were administered morphine, placed in a CPP environment, and monitored to measure the temporal profile of the drug and understand its affective properties.
CPP has also been used to investigate the incubation of the craving phenomenon in drugs such as cocaine, providing insight into changes within the nucleus accumbens.
Benefits of CPP in drug studies
CPP systems offer numerous advantages for drug research. They allow scientists to evaluate the time profiles of drugs, shedding light on the pattern of rewarding and aversive effects. CPP also helps assess the psychoactive properties of drugs in animals. The versatility of this system allows scientists to investigate dose-dependent differences and investigate the impact of drug timing and dosing.
San Diego Instruments’ location preference systems
The Place Preference System from San Diego Instruments is an easy-to-use, powerful and intuitive tool for monitoring the motivational impact of objects or stimuli on laboratory animals.
It uses a 4×16 photobeam array to record when an animal enters the room and how long it stays there. The system accurately records and reports standard activity data, including walking, fine movements and time-stamped (x,y) positions.
This device easily connects via USB, allowing scientists to use the system with laptops or computers. The CPP stores all research results in a single file format, eliminating the need to manage multiple files when exporting data.
The system’s test enclosure features clear acrylic walls, which provide flexibility for mounting different signals. The removable floors allow researchers to build custom floors from different materials to meet specific research requirements. Long-lasting, heat-free LED ceiling lights provide optimal lighting conditions, while manually operated doors ensure subjects can move between rooms unhindered.
References and further reading:
- Gliklich, R. E., Dreyer, N. A., and Leavy, MB (2014). Detection, processing and reporting of adverse events. (online) Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208615/.
- Bernardi, R.E. et al. (2009). Modafinil restores cocaine-conditioned place preference after extinction in rats. Behavioral brain research204(1), pp.250–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.05.028.
About San Diego Instruments, Inc.
For more than 30 years San Diego Instruments has served the scientific community as a comprehensive resource for the design, manufacture, and distribution of behavioral neuroscience research instruments used in human and animal studies. SDI systems are used in laboratories and reported in research papers worldwide and have come to represent the industry standard for quality and longevity. Our first-class SR-LAB is the world’s most widely used startle response system. At SDI, our commitment to developing quality products that stand the test of time is only matched by our commitment to excellent customer service. We are proud of our ever-growing core of loyal customers.
SDI behavioral neuroscience research systems give you the ultimate in quality and performance, giving you an edge in an industry where power, flexibility and ease of use are everything.
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