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Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Caster, JM; Walker, QD; Kuhn, CM
Published in: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
December 2005

RATIONALE: Most lifelong drug addiction in humans originates during adolescence. Important structural and functional changes in the brain occur during adolescence, but there has been little direct study of how this impacts on drug abuse vulnerability. An emerging literature suggests that adolescents exhibit different behavioral responses to single doses of several addictive drugs, including ethanol, amphetamine, and cocaine. However, few studies have explored behavioral responses to the repeated dosing that is characteristic of human abuse of these substances. OBJECTIVES: We have investigated age-related behavioral responses to acute "binge" cocaine treatment between adults and adolescents. RESULTS: Adolescent rats displayed an exaggerated behavioral response to cocaine administered in two different binge patterns. Total locomotion after cocaine administration was the same in adolescents and adults. However, adolescent rats engaged in more intense stereotypic behaviors, including paw treading, head weaving, and focused sniffing than adult rats. These differences were observable following a modest dose of cocaine and became more robust following subsequent doses within a binge. Cocaine [corrected] brain levels were not significantly different between age groups during any of the exposure sessions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that equivalent tissue concentrations of cocaine produce a greater behavioral response in young rats, and that adolescent animals display an apparent form of intrabinge sensitization.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

December 2005

Volume

183

Issue

2

Start / End Page

218 / 225

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Stereotyped Behavior
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Locomotion
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
 

Citation

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Caster, J. M., Walker, Q. D., & Kuhn, C. M. (2005). Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 183(2), 218–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0159-4
Caster, Joseph M., Q David Walker, and Cynthia M. Kuhn. “Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats.Psychopharmacology (Berl) 183, no. 2 (December 2005): 218–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0159-4.
Caster JM, Walker QD, Kuhn CM. Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Dec;183(2):218–25.
Caster, Joseph M., et al. “Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats.Psychopharmacology (Berl), vol. 183, no. 2, Dec. 2005, pp. 218–25. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00213-005-0159-4.
Caster JM, Walker QD, Kuhn CM. Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Dec;183(2):218–225.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

December 2005

Volume

183

Issue

2

Start / End Page

218 / 225

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Stereotyped Behavior
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Locomotion
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors