Yohimbine stress potentiates conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking in rats.
Stress and drug-associated cues can trigger craving and relapse in abstinent drug-dependent individuals. Although the role of these two critical factors in relapse has been extensively studied, the interaction between stress and drug-associated cues in relapse has been less well characterized. Using an animal model of relapse, we assessed the effects of the pharmacological stressor, yohimbine (1.25 or 2.5mg/kg), on reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking in rats either in the presence or absence of heroin-associated cues. Yohimbine, in the absence of heroin-associated cues, and cues by themselves reliably reinstated heroin-seeking over extinction levels. Notably, animals showed significantly potentiated responding when yohimbine preceded cue-induced reinstatement (3-4x higher over cues or yohimbine alone). These results demonstrate that exposure to heroin-paired cues during yohimbine-induced stress greatly potentiates heroin-seeking, and support the simultaneous targeting of both stress and cue activation during relapse intervention.
Banna
Kelly M
KM
Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, BSB416B, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Back
Sudie E
SE
Do
Phong
P
See
Ronald E
RE
D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D015016:Yohimbine; D003932:Heroin