Differential impact of cocaine on meal patterns in female and male rats.
Female rats, relative to males, exhibit greater behavioral activation to cocaine and other psychostimulants, but the effect of sex and the estrous cycle in modulating the hypophagic action of cocaine has not been evaluated. Meal patterns were recorded in automated food hoppers during the first 3 h of the dark phase in adult female and male rats after administration of ascending cocaine doses (0, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg cocaine, i.p.) on successive trials. Cocaine produced a greater suppression of feeding as well as a reduction in meal number over a 3 h test period in female rats during estrus, relative to that noted during diestrus. In contrast, during the 180 min test period, male rats showed minimal hypophagic responses to 7.5 or 15 mg/kg cocaine. These results extend the range of behavioral perturbations induced by cocaine that are modulated by sex and by the estrous cycle and are consistent with the notion that estradiol may modulate the neurochemical actions of cocaine.
Wellman
Paul J
PJ
Cellular and Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4235, USA. pjw@psyc.tamu.edu
Ho
Dao H
DH
Nation
Jack R
JR
D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012737:Sex Factors
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine