@article{ref1,
title="Gamma-vinyl gamma-aminobutyric acid attenuates the synergistic elevations of nucleus accumbens dopamine produced by a cocaine/heroin (speedball) challenge",
journal="European journal of pharmacology",
year="1999",
author="Gerasimov, M. R. and Dewey, S. L.",
volume="380",
number="1",
pages="1-4",
abstract="In the present study, we examined the effect of an acute administration of the selective suicide inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-transaminase, gamma-vinyl GABA on increases in nucleus accumbens dopamine produced by a cocaine/heroin challenge in freely moving animals. Cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) produced an elevation in extracellular nucleus accumbens dopamine of approximately 380% above baseline, while heroin produced only a moderate increase of 70%. Coadministration of these two drugs, however, produced a synergistic elevation in nucleus accumbens dopamine of 1000%. This response was reduced by 50% in animals pretreated with gamma-vinyl GABA (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 2.5 h prior to challenge. This same dose of gamma-vinyl GABA inhibited cocaine-induced increases in nucleus accumbens dopamine by 25% and completely abolished heroin-induced increase. These findings indicate that gamma-vinyl GABA can interfere with the synergistic effects produced by the combination of an indirect dopamine releaser (heroin) and a dopamine reuptake blocker (cocaine).<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0014-2999",
doi="10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00526-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00526-9"
}