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Food deprivation (FD) or restriction augments the locomotor activating and reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. It has been proposed that these effects might be mediated by FD-induced increase in plasma levels of ghrelin, a 28-amino acid orexigenic peptide demonstrated to functionally interact with the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. However, a role for ghrelin has been demonstrated only with psychostimulant drugs and alcohol associated behaviors. We therefore examined the role of ghrelin in ongoing heroin self-administration and FD-induced reinstatement of extinguished heroin seeking. As expected, infusions of ghrelin [0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 µg/rat, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)] produced increases in breakpoints on a progressive ratio schedule of heroin reinforcement. In contrast, central administration of a ghrelin receptor antagonist, [D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6 (0.0, or 20.0 µg/rat, i.c.v.) had no effect on ongoing heroin self-administration under a fixed-ratio 1 schedule, or on FD-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. These results suggest that signals mediated through ghrelin receptors play a limited role in FD-induced augmentation of heroin reinforcement and reinstatement of extinguished heroin seeking.

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These results suggest that while signals mediated through NPY Y1 receptors play a modest role in reinstatement, activation of Y5 receptors has a critical function in FD-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior.

found by the police in a city hundreds of miles away. She had no memory of her previous life and identity and named herself with a new name. The patient was diagnosed as having dissociative fugue. For five months after the diagnosis was made the patient remained amnesic for her identity and autobiographical memory. No pharmaceutical medication was administered; only psychotherapy. The patient begun to have suicidal thoughts which led to her hospitalization. Treatment: A course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as well as SSRI medication (venlafaxine, initially 75mg and then 150 mg) was administered. Following the fifth course of ECT the patient recalled all of her past memory. Conclusions: The electroconvulsive therapy has not been shown to be an effective or appropriate treatment for dissociative disorders; some authors have indicated that it may be important in relieving an associated depression. There are no reports on the use of ECT for dissociative fugue. This patients paradoxal recall of memory following a course of ECT treatment forced us to this announcement.