SUPPRESSION OF PSYCHOACTIVE EFFECTS OF COCAINE BY ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION

COCAINE is a powerfully addictive substance and new strategies are nee ded to treat its abuse. Generating an active immunization(1,2) to coca ine offers a means of blocking the actions of the drug by preventing i t from entering the central nervous system, and should have fewer side effects than treatments based on manipulation of central neurotransmi tter function. The design and preparation of a cocaine immunogen requi res special regard for the stability of cocaine both free and as a hap tenic determinant. Immunochemistry and a well defined behavioural mode l were brought together to address the problem of inactivation of the psychostimulant actions of cocaine. We report here that active immuniz ation with a new, stable cocaine conjugate suppressed locomotor activi ty and stereotyped behaviour in rats induced by cocaine but not by amp hetamine, Moreover, following acute injection of cocaine, levels of co caine in the striatum and cerebellum of the immunized animals were low er than those of control animals, These results suggest that immunopha rmacotherapy may be a promising means by which to explore new treatmen ts for cocaine abuse.