Modafinil alone and in combination with low dose amphetamine does not establish conditioned place preference in male sprague-dawley rats.

Abstract

Modafinil is a novel wake-promoting drug with FDA approval for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. It is also prescribed for many off-label uses such as ADHD and it is currently being assessed as a treatment for psychostimulant dependence. Previous research assessing the abuse liability of modafinil in animals and humans suggests it is less potent and has a low abuse potential compared to traditional psychomotor stimulants. However, modafinil has not been carefully assessed in combination with other psychostimulant drugs. The current study used an unbiased place conditioning procedure simultaneously with locomotor screening procedures to assess the combined behavioral effects of modafinil and d-amphetamine in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Eight 30-min conditioning trials were conducted in a 2 compartment apparatus with distinct visual and tactile cues. Drug and vehicle conditioning trials were alternated with 1 trial per day separated by 24 hr. On drug conditioning trials, rats were administered either modafinil (64 mg/kg, i.g.), d-amphetamine (0.3 or 2.0 mg/kg, s.c.), a combination of modafinil (64 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (0.3 mg/kg), or vehicle injections. On vehicle conditioning trials, all groups received vehicle injections. Preference for either compartment was assessed by recording time spent in each compartment during a 15-min test conducted 24 hr after the last conditioning trial. Results indicated that this low oral dose of modafinil did not significantly increase locomotor activity or establish conditioned place preference (CPP). Moreover, modafinil did not significantly alter the hyperlocomotor or CPP effects of d-amphetamine. To confirm that modafinil is behaviorally active at this low oral dose, a separate assessment of horizontal and vertical activity was conducted with male Sprague-Dawley rats in an open field apparatus. Results confirmed that modafinil increased locomotor activity relative to vehicle, with increases in vertical activity especially prominent, a measure that was not assessed in place conditioning trials. Although the current results predict a low abuse liability with concurrent use of modafinil and d-amphetamine, additional research with higher dose combinations may be warranted before ruling out the possibility that these drugs could have additive or synergistic effects.