Developmental stress elicits preference for methamphetamine in the spontaneously hypertensive rat model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND
Developmental stress has been hypothesised to interact with genetic predisposition to increase the risk of developing substance use disorders. Here we have investigated the effects of maternal separation-induced developmental stress using a behavioural proxy of methamphetamine preference in an animal model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the spontaneously hypertensive rat, versus Wistar Kyoto and Sprague-Dawley comparator strains.


RESULTS
Analysis of results obtained using a conditioned place preference paradigm revealed a significant strain × stress interaction with maternal separation inducing preference for the methamphetamine-associated compartment in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Maternal separation increased behavioural sensitization to the locomotor-stimulatory effects of methamphetamine in both spontaneously hypertensive and Sprague-Dawley strains but not in Wistar Kyoto rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that developmental stress in a genetic rat model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may foster a vulnerability to the development of substance use disorders.
Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa. jacqueline.womersley@gmail.com.
Jacqueline S
JS
Womersley
Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Bafokeng
B
Mpeta
Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Jacqueline J
JJ
Dimatelis
Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Lauriston A
LA
Kellaway
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Dan J
DJ
Stein
Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Vivienne A
VA
Russell
D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006973:Hypertension; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
D008694:Methamphetamine
Addiction; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Conditioned place preference; Developmental stress; Methamphetamine; Spontaneously hypertensive rat