LACK OF CROSS-SENSITIZATION BETWEEN THE LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVATING EFFECTS OF BROMOCRIPTINE AND THOSE OF COCAINE OR HEROIN

Rats were given daily injections of bromocriptine (5.0 mg/kg IP) or vehicle either in the home cage or in a test box equipped with photocells to measure locomotion. The animals were then tested in the photocell boxes for their locomotor response to cocaine (10.0 mg/kg IP), heroin (0.5 mg/kg IP), or quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg IP). Repeated bromocriptine in the test box but not in the home cage caused progressive increases in sensitivity to the locomotor-stimulating effects of bromocriptine and increases in the subsequent sensitivity to quinpirole but caused only trivial signs of cross-sensitization to cocaine or heroin. Cross-sensitization to quinpirole was temporary; responsiveness to quinpirole decreased with further quinpirole injections. Lack of significant cross-sensitization between bromocriptine and either cocaine or heroin and lack of permanence of the cross-sensitization between bromocriptine and quinpirole raise questions as to the biological basis of psychomotor stimulant sensitization.