Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response in cocaine-withdrawn rats

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle is a sensorimotor gating task in which a low-intensity acoustic stimulus presented prior to a high-intensity, startle-eliciting stimulus can attenuate the acoustic startle response (ASR). Previous studies on startle reactivity in cocaine-withdrawn rats have found minimal changes; the present study extends this work to the gating of ASR. In Experiment 1, rats were injected daily with either saline or cocaine (30 mg/kg i.p.) for 2 weeks. ASR and PPI were measured prior to, and at 3- and 14-day withdrawal from, the chronic treatment. No effect of cocaine treatment was found on either measure. In Experiment 2, treatment was extended to 8 weeks, and an earlier withdrawal time point (1 day) was added. Rats treated with cocaine for 8 weeks exhibited lower startle reactivity during withdrawal compared with saline-treated controls. PPI did not differ between treatment groups. Thus, extended chronic treatment with cocaine rendered significant effects on startle responsivity. Further, this finding mirrors the blunted ASR exhibited in chronic cocaine users [Neuropsychopharmacology 22 (2000) 89.].