Perinatal protein malnutrition enhances rewarding cocaine properties in adult rats

VALDOMERO A., BUSSOLINO D, ORSINGHER O, CUADRA G.

Elsevier

Año: 2006 vol. 137 p. 221 - 221

he rewarding properties of cocaine were assessed in adult rats submitted to a protein malnutrition schedule from the 14th day of gestation up to 40 days of age(deprived rats), as compared with well-nourished animals (control rats) using the conditioned place preference paradigm. Dose-response curves to cocaine (3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 or 60 mg/kg i.p.)revealed in deprived rats a conditioning effect with doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg; doses of 15 and 30 mg/kg did not show any conditioning place preference and doses of 45 and 60 mg/kg revealed a significant aversive effect. In control rats, cocaine elicited place preference with doses of 10, 15 and 30 mg/kg, whereas 45 and 60 mg/kg did not show either conditioning or aversive effects. Furthermore, sensitization to the conditioning effect of cocaine was obtained in deprived animals with a low dosage of cocaine, that was ineffective in controls (5 mg/kg/day for 10 days). Related to the higher rewarding effects, sensitized deprived rats showed a