Developmental stress elicits preference for methamphetamine in the spontaneously hypertensive rat model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Jacqueline S. Womersley, Bafokeng Mpeta, Jacqueline J. Dimatelis, Lauriston A. Kellaway, Dan J. Stein, Vivienne A. Russell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number18
JournalBehavioral and Brain Functions
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Jun 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Addiction
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
  • Conditioned place preference
  • Developmental stress
  • Methamphetamine
  • Spontaneously hypertensive rat

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