The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor nimesulide induces conditioned place preference in rats

Two cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin and nimesulide, have been shown to potentiate morphine-induced stimulation of meso-accumbens dopamine neurons. In this study, an unbiased conditioned place preference procedure was used to evaluate whether nimesulide produces motivational effect after systemic administration in rats. These results show that nimesulide, at doses 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg, even lower than those usually applied for inflammatory conditions, induces conditioned place preference in rats, suggesting that it might possess rewarding properties in humans. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.