title: Acute withdrawal but not long-term withdrawal from methamphetamine affects sexual behavior in female rats.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the long-term effects of repeated methamphetamine (MA) exposure on sexual motivation in female rats tested after a period of drug abstinence. In Experiment 1, female subjects received three injections of MA (1.0mg/kg/day, every other day) or saline and were tested for paced mating behavior (where females could control the receipt of sexual stimulation from one male rat) 21 days after their last injection. In Experiment 2, female subjects received 12 consecutive injections of MA (1.0mg/kg/day) or saline and were tested for mate choice (where females could control the receipt of sexual stimulation from two male rats simultaneously) 6 days after their last injection. Experiment 3 was identical to Experiment 2 except that female subjects received no baseline mating test and were tested for mate choice 24h and 6 days after their last injection. Open field tests were conducted in each experiment to measure locomotor activity after repeated exposure to MA. Although repeated MA exposure increased locomotor activity, mating behavior was not facilitated after either a short (6 days) or long (21 days) period of drug abstinence. Nevertheless, sexual behavior was disrupted during the 24h acute withdrawal period. Therefore, although the present study found no evidence of cross-sensitization between female sexual behavior and MA after either a short or a long period of drug abstinence, sexual behavior in sexually naïve female rats is sensitive to the depressive state associated with acute withdrawal from MA. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that MA acts differently from other psychomotor stimulants, and that the effects of MA withdrawal on sexual behavior differ between male and female rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Southwestern University, 1001 East University Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Thibodeau
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ornelas
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Memos
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheible
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cuenod
authors.forename: Russell J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Frohardt
authors.forename: Fay A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Guarraci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine