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Sk609, A Novel Dopamine D3 Receptor Agonist And Norepinephrine Transporter Blocker With Putative Pro-Cognitive Actions, Does Not Induce Psychostimulant-Like Increases In Risky Choice During Probabilistic Discounting, Christopher P. Knapp, Brooke Fallon, Sandhya Kortagere, Barry D. Waterhouse, Stan B Floresco, Rachel L Navarra

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

RATIONALE: Psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter. SK609 has been shown to improve cognitive performance without increasing psychostimulant-like spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting SK609 may benefit neurocognitive function without …