Chronic social stress in adolescence influenced both amphetamine conditioned place preference and locomotor sensitization.
We previously reported that chronic social stress (SS) in adolescence, but not in adulthood, increased the locomotor-activating effects of nicotine in females, and not males, when tested in adulthood. However, SS rats had decreased locomotor response to nicotine when tested in adolescence. Here, we investigated age-related changes in the effects of SS on both conditioned place preference (CPP) and locomotor sensitization to amphetamine. In the CPP experiment, SS females tested in adolescence had increased preference for the 1.0 mg/kg dose of amphetamine, whereas SS rats of both sexes showed a decrease in CPP for the 0.5 mg/kg dose when tested as adults. Irrespective of time of testing, SS males and females had enhanced locomotor sensitization compared to controls. Thus, adolescent SS produced both immediate and enduring effects on behavioral responses to amphetamine, likely by altering the development of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, which holds implications for vulnerability to addiction.
Mathews
I Z
IZ
Department of Psychology, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Ave, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
Mills
R G
RG
McCormick
C M
CM
D000367:Age Factors; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D009538:Nicotine; D000661:Amphetamine