Viral-Mediated Gene Transfer to Study the Behavioral Correlates of CREB Function in the Nucleus Accumbens of Rats - Drugs of Abuse: Neurological Reviews and Protocols - page 337

Fig. 4. “Unbiased” place conditioning apparatus. (Med Associates, St. Albans VT.)
4. Screen the rats for 30 min. Remove the rats from the apparatus immediately
after the testing session ends.
5. Counterbalance the rats such that each of the four conditions ( see Note 9 ) is
represented within each experimental condition.
6. Perform stereotaxic microinjections of viral vectors (as Subheading 3.4. ).
7. Day 1-2 . Allow the rats to recover from the surgery.
8. Day 3 . Begin “compressed” conditioning paradigm (two sessions per day; see
Note 10 ). Close the doors in the dividers that separate the compartments of the
apparatus. In the morning, administer saline (1 mL/kg) and place each rat in
the “nondrug”-assigned compartment. Turn the lights off in the test room, and
condition the rats for 1 h. After the conditioning session, return the rats to their
home cages and the vivarium. Clean the entire apparatus with isopropyl alcohol
wipes, and leave the tops open to minimize trapped odors. In the afternoon (at
least 3 h later), administer the drug under study (e.g., cocaine) and place each
rat in the “drug” assigned compartment. Turn the lights off in the test room, and
condition the rats for 1 h. After the conditioning session, return the rats to their
home cages and the vivarium. It is particularly important to remove the rats
from the apparatus immediately at the end of the cocaine conditioning sessions,