CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE INDUCED BY RO-16-6028, A BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR PARTIAL AGONIST

A place conditioning situation was used to assess the putative affective properties of benzodiazepine receptor ligands in the rat. The benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist Ro 16-6028 induced a conditioned place preference, suggesting that this compound has rewarding properties. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788 induced neither place preference nor aversion, but prevented the place preference induced by Ro 16-6028, suggesting that the rewarding effects of Ro 16-6028 are due to its action on the benzodiazepine receptor. The benzodiazepine receptor full agonist diazepam did not induce a conditioned place preference in our hands, in contrast with previous studies. The sensitivity of place conditioning with benzodiazepine ligands to situational factors, such as the existence of a preconditioning preference, is discussed.