title: Specific impairments in instrumental learning following chronic intermittent toluene inhalation in adolescent rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inhalant abuse is prevalent in adolescent populations, with chronic use resulting in neurobiological and cognitive abnormalities in adulthood. However, the nature and persistence of cognitive dysfunction, particularly following adolescent inhalant abuse, remain equivocal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed specific cognitive processes beginning in late adolescence and adulthood following adolescent inhalation of toluene, a main component of many compounds readily abused.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent male Wistar rats (postnatal day (PN) 27) were exposed to chronic intermittent inhaled toluene (10,000 ppm) for 1 h/day, 3 days/week for 4 weeks (PN 27-52) to mimic the patterns observed in human adolescent inhalant abusers. Following toluene exposure, motor and cognitive function was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescent toluene exposure did not alter motor learning in the Rotarod task (PN 58) or acquisition, reversal, or retention of spatial learning in the Morris water maze (PN 55-64). In contrast, it delayed acquisition of instrumental responding for sucrose (5 % w/v) and impaired operant reversal learning and cue-induced reinstatement of sucrose seeking in adulthood (PN 57-100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that exposure to toluene at an abuse concentration during adolescence results in specific impairments in aspects of instrumental learning, without altering motor function and spatial learning in late adolescence/early adulthood. Our data imply that persistent alterations in reward processing may occur following adolescent inhalant misuse.
authors: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, L3, Kenneth Myer Building, Cnr Genetics Lane on Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors: Alec L W
authors: AL
authors: Dick
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Axelsson
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Lawrence
authors: Jhodie R
authors: JR
authors: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012646:Self Administration; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene