__smbhome.uscs.susx.ac.uk_lh89_Desktop_Avvisati_11FEB2016.pdf (2.58 MB)
Ultrasonic vocalization in rats self-administering heroin and cocaine in different settings: evidence of substance-specific interactions between drug and setting
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 00:19 authored by Riccardo Avvisati, Laura Contu, Emiliana Stendardo, Caterina Michetti, Christian Montanari, Maria Scattoni, Aldo BadianiRationale Clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that the setting of drug use affects drug reward in a substance-specific manner. Heroin and cocaine co-abusers, for example, indicated distinct settings for the two drugs: heroin being used preferentially at home and cocaine preferentially outside the home. Similar results were obtained in rats that were given the opportunity to self-administer intravenously both heroin and cocaine. Objectives The goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility that the positive affective state induced by cocaine is enhanced when the drug is taken at home relative to a non-home environment, and vice versa for heroin. Methods To test this hypothesis, we trained male rats to self-administer both heroin and cocaine on alternate days and simultaneously recorded the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), as it has been reported that rats emit 50-kHz USVs when exposed to rewarding stimuli, suggesting that these USVs reflect positive affective states. Results We found that Non-Resident rats emitted more 50-kHz USVs when they self-administered cocaine than when self-administered heroin whereas Resident rats emitted more 50-kHz USVs when self-administering heroin than when self-administering cocaine. Differences in USVs in Non-Resident rats were more pronounced during the first self-administration (SA) session, when the SA chambers were completely novel to them. In contrast, the differences in USVs in Resident rats were more pronounced during the last SA sessions. Conclusion These findings indicate that the setting of drug taking exerts a substance-specific influence on the ability of drugs to induce positive affective states.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
PsychopharmacologyISSN
0033-3158Publisher
SpringerExternal DOI
Issue
8Volume
233Page range
1501-1511Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-03-11First Open Access (FOA) Date
2017-03-11First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-03-11Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC