흰쥐를 이용한 에페드린의 약물남용가능성 평가

Evaluation on the Abuse Liability of Ephedrine Using Rats

Abuse liability of ephedrine was investigated by measurement of locomotor activity and self-administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Locomotor activity was determined in rats treated with 3, 10 and 30mg/kg ephedrine for 14 days. Self-administration by ephedrine (0.23, 1 and 2.3mg/kg) was examined in food-trained rats. We also examined effect of dopamine receptor antagonist (spiperone, 30mcg/kg) on the ephedrine-induced response of self-administration. Body weight was not statistically difference between control and ephedrine treatment group, but locomotor activity was dose-dependently increased. Self-administration for ephedrine was decreased in the early response (day 1 and 2) but the response was increased by higher dose of ephedrine. Self-administration was decreased by dopamine receptor antagonist (spiperone). These data showed that ephedrine increased locomotor activity and induced response of self-administration, and the effects of ephedrine were partially related to the dopaminergic system, which suggest that ephedrine may have abuse liability.