Antagonism of cocaine's stimulant effects on local cerebral glucose utilization by the preferential autoreceptor antagonist (+)-AJ 76.

(+)-AJ 76 is a stimulant dopamine (DA) antagonist, which has a putative preferential action at DA nerve terminal autoreceptors. Because it is both a mild stimulant and a DA antagonist, it has previously been suggested that (+)-AJ 76 might antagonize both the euphoria and craving associated with cocaine abuse and withdrawal, respectively. To evaluate this hypothesis further, (+)-AJ 76 was evaluated for its ability to affect cocaine-induced changes in regional brain energy metabolism. Using Sokoloff's 2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic technique, (+)-AJ 76 antagonized the stimulant effect of cocaine. Although classical DA antagonists are known to depress regional brain energy metabolism, (+)-AJ 76 by itself had no effect. It is concluded that the results are consistent with the previously stated hypothesis that (+)-AJ 76 might be useful as a pharmacotherapy for treatment of cocaine abuse.