Conditioned place preference following concurrent treatment with 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and methamphetamine in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Synthetic cathinones gained initial popularity on the illicit drug market as a result of attempts to evade legal restrictions on other commonly abused psychostimulants. A body of published research has determined that the psychopharmacology of the synthetic cathinone 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is comparable to cocaine and methamphetamine (METH). Few preclinical studies have systematically investigated concurrent use of synthetic cathinones with other psychostimulant drugs.

Contribution of monoaminergic mechanisms to the discriminative stimulus effects of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a popular synthetic cathinone reported to have a high abuse potential. Recent preclinical research indicates the psychopharmacology of MDPV is comparable to cocaine. Despite a recent influx of research on the psychopharmacology of MDPV, few studies have employed preclinical drug discrimination methods to discern the neurochemical mechanisms involved in its interoceptive stimulus effects.