Post-weaning housing conditions influence the behavioural effects of cocaine and d-amphetamine |
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Authors: | J K Smith J C Neill B Costall |
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Institution: | (1) Postgraduate studies in Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK Tel: (+44)1274/384677, Fax (+44)1274/370815, GB |
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Abstract: | Post-weaning social isolation can induce profound and long lasting effects on an animal’s behaviour. The present study investigated
the influence of post-weaning housing conditions on the sensitivity of rats to the behavioural effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine. The locomotor stimulant effects of both drugs were compared following acute and chronic administration.
The influence of post-weaning housing conditions on the effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine on responding for food and for a conditioned reinforcer were also examined. Isolated rats showed
enhanced locomotor activity on exposure to a novel environment. This difference was further exaggerated following administration
of d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) and cocaine (5 mg/kg). Isolated, but not enriched, rats exhibited sensitisation to the locomotor
activating effects of repeated administration of a dose of 0.5 mg/kg d-amphetamine, whilst both groups sensitised equally to a dose of 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine. Rearing conditions did not affect sensitisation to cocaine (5, 10 mg/kg). Isolated rats exhibited a higher rate
of responding for a conditioned stimulus and for food on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, both of which were
enhanced to a greater extent in isolates following administration of cocaine (5 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg). These results suggest that isolation rearing induces an enhancement in sensitivity to both the locomotor
stimulant and reinforcing properties of amphetamine and cocaine.
Received: 12 June 1996 / Final version: 17 October 1996 |
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Keywords: | Social isolation Environmental enrichment Reward Rat Locomotor activity Sensitisation Conditioned reinforcement d-Amphetamine Cocaine |
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