Magnesium alters the potency of cocaine and haloperidol on mouse aggression

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Abstract
Magnesium has been shown to have certain behavioral effects similar to the stimulants cocaine and amphetamine, particularly on mouse resident-intruder aggression. Consequently, it was hypothesized that magnesium should interact with the indirect agonist cocaine and the antagonist haloperidol to alter their potency in the mouse resident-intruder model. Acute and chronic drug effects were compared. Results demonstrate an enhancement of cocaine potency by 30 and 125 mg/kg MgCl2 and a lowering of cocaine potency by a 15% required-Mg2+ deficient diet as measured by shifts in the dose response to acutely administered cocaine. Following chronic 0.5 mg/kg cocaine for 15 days, a dose of 125 mg/kg acutely administered MgCl2 prevented the disruptive effects of chronic cocaine on mouse aggression. Acutely administered haloperidol was influenced by Mg2+ treatments in a manner opposite from the effects on cocaine, while the chronic effects of haloperidol were affected in the same manner by Mg2+ treatments as those shown for chronic cocaine. Several mechanisms are suggested to explain these interactions.