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Published on: November 6, 2018
Amphetamine reward in the monogamous prairie vole
Brandon J Aragona1, Jacqueline M Detwiler, Zuoxin Wang
1Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA.
Neuroscience Letters
|April 3, 2007
Summary
Prairie voles, known for pair bonding, show drug reward responses similar to rodents. This study confirms their utility in drug research, with females more sensitive to amphetamine effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Neural mechanisms of pair bonding in prairie voles resemble those in rodent drug seeking.
- This suggests a potential link between social behavior and drug reward pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the prairie vole as a viable model for drug studies.
- To investigate amphetamine-induced reward in this species.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of amphetamine-induced conditioned place preferences in prairie voles.
- Dose-response assessments in both male and female subjects.
Main Results:
- Prairie voles exhibit robust amphetamine-induced conditioned place preferences.
- Amphetamine effects were dose-dependent, with females showing greater sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of drug reward in prairie voles.
- The prairie vole is a suitable model for studying drug reward and its interaction with social behavior.
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