Environment is not the most important variable in determining oral morphine consumption in Wistar rats.
The role of differential housing on sucrose-morphine consumption in outbred Wistar rats was investigated in two studies. The results of earlier research, indicating rats housed in a quasinatural colony drank significantly less sucrose-morphine than rats isolated in standard laboratory cages, could not be replicated, as the consumption of sucrose-morphine by the isolated animals in the present two studies was reduced. It is possible that during a colony conversion the supplier inadvertently introduced strain differences making the present rats more resistant to xenobiotic consumption. Discussion documents the role of genetics in morphine consumption.
Petrie
B F
BF
Department of Psychology, New Mexico Tech, Socorro 87801, USA.
D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012646:Self Administration / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013649:Taste
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D009020:Morphine