Progesterone attenuates cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in female rats.
Progesterone replacement attenuates the intensity of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) behaviors in female rats. The present study aimed to expand that finding by (i) determining the role of progesterone in the acquisition and/or expression of cocaine-induced CPP and (ii) determining if progesterone's effects might be meditated through learning and memory. To this end, female rats were administered progesterone during cocaine conditioning or object recognition tasks; rats received subcutaneous injections of progesterone (500 microg) or vehicle (sesame oil) 4 h before saline or cocaine (5 mg/kg) on conditioning days (acquisition phase) or before testing (expression phase or object recognition tasks). Progesterone treatment during both the acquisition and the expression phases of cocaine conditioning blocked cocaine-induced CPP. Progesterone affected neither the number of entrances and explorations in the CPP chambers nor the ambulatory and rearing behaviors. In the object recognition task (a non-spatial learning and memory task), progesterone treatment had no effect. However, in the object placement task (a spatial learning and memory task), progesterone treatment significantly impaired retention in hormone-treated rats as compared with control groups. These results suggest that progesterone treatment interferes with cocaine-induced reward associations, possibly through effects on spatial working memory consolidation The observed effects of acute progesterone treatment on cocaine-induced CPP may in part contribute reported menstrual effects and sex disparities in overall cocaine use and rates of relapse.
Russo
Scott J
SJ
Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Sun
Wei Lun
WL
Minerly
Ana Christina E
AC
Weierstall
Karen
K
Nazarian
Arbi
A
Festa
Eugene D
ED
Niyomchai
Tipyamol
T
Akhavan
Alaleh
A
Luine
Victoria
V
Jenab
Shirzad
S
Quiñones-Jenab
Vanya
V
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012201:Reward; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D011374:Progesterone; D003042:Cocaine