Assessing drugs and their effects is a critical part of drug discovery research. It helps researchers understand the mechanisms behind specific drugs and contributes to developing safe and effective treatments for a wide range of health conditions and diseases. Analyses of drug temporal profiles can be challenging but are frequently conducted in drug discovery to monitor the relationship between the drug ingested and any adverse reactions or abnormal laboratory test results.1 For rodent test subjects, one of the most suitable methods of assessing these profiles is with conditioned place preference (CPP) systems. In this blog post, we look at how this works and the benefits it brings to drug discovery research.
What Are Conditioned Place Preference Systems?
Conditioned place preference systems are used to condition animals to associate a particular environment with the effects of a drug, resulting in a preference for that environment. The CPP can be manufactured in different designs and apparatuses to suit specific research requirements. The use of floor textures, along with other contextual cues, helps establish the association between the drug and the environment. During the conditioning phase, animals spend more time in the drug-paired environment, indicating a preference for that specific environment. It is worth mentioning that some CCP systems are sound-attenuated to block out any external noise that could distract rodents, but not all systems are.
Relapse in laboratory animals can be measured using drug-associated environmental cues. These cues trigger drug-seeking behaviors and provide valuable insights into the animals’ response to drug-related stimuli. By precisely measuring entries into chambers and utilizing a database system, researchers can capture every movement of the subject, facilitating accurate data analysis and interpretation.
Assessing Drug Temporal Profiles with a CPP
CPP is a valuable tool in behavioral science, pharmacology, and neuroscience research. It allows researchers to evaluate the rewarding properties of drugs and investigate the underlying mechanisms of drug addiction.
For example, researchers have been able to study the rewarding properties of morphine by using CPP systems. The study was conducted by inducing rodents with morphine, placing them in a CPP, and monitoring the effects to measure the drug’s temporal profile and understand its affective properties. Additionally, CPP has been used to investigate the incubation of craving phenomenon in drugs like cocaine, shedding light on changes within the nucleus accumbens.
Benefits of CPP in Drug Studies
There are many advantages to using CPP in drug studies. It allows researchers to assess the temporal profile of drugs, which offers insights into the pattern of rewarding and aversive effects. Moreover, CPP helps evaluate the psychoactive properties of drugs in animals. The versatility of this system enables researchers to examine dose-dependent differences and explore the impact of drug administration timing and dosing.
Looking for Conditioned Place Preference Systems?
San Diego Instrument’s Place Preference System is a powerful and easy-to-use system for monitoring an object or stimuli’s motivational impact on a testing animal. SDI’s Place Preference System uses a 4×16 photobeam array to log when an animal enters the chamber and how long it spends there. The system accurately records and reports standard activity data, including ambulation and fine movements and time-stamped (x,y) positions.
The unit offers an easy connection via USB, enabling researchers to run the system using laptops or computers. Additionally, the CPP stores all study results in a single file format, which removes the need to manage multiple files when exporting data.
The testing enclosure of the system features clear acrylic walls, providing the flexibility to attach any type of cue. The removable floors allow the creation of custom floors from various materials, catering to specific study requirements. The long-lasting, heat-free LED ceiling lights ensure optimal lighting conditions, while the manually operated doors offer clear pathways for subjects to cross between chambers.
If you require a conditioned place preference system, contact San Diego Instruments today, and we’ll be happy to help.