Enhanced cocaine self-administration in adult rats prenatally exposed to cocaine.
Rats that had been prenatally exposed to either cocaine or saline were examined as adults using continuous reinforcement (FR1) cocaine self-administration. Initially these rats were water-deprived and trained to bar-press for water; no differences across prenatal treatments were observed during this training phase. After complete rehydration and implantation of an intravenous cannula into the external jugular vein, animals were introduced to cocaine self-administration with a nocturnal and subsequent 3 h exposure. During daily test sessions rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine for 1 h/day. Prenatal cocaine exposure led to a marked and stable enhancement of the rates of self-administration for up to 13 days, the longest time point examined. These results suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure can alter cocaine reinforcement in adult animals.
Keller
R W
RW
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Albany Medical College, NY 12208, USA. rkeller@ccgateway.amc.edu
LeFevre
R
R
Raucci
J
J
Carlson
J N
JN
Glick
S D
SD
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012646:Self Administration
D003042:Cocaine