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A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
Cocaine disrupts pup-induced maternal behavior in juvenile and adult rats
Josephine M Johns1, Matthew S McMurray, Vivian E Hofler
1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7096, USA. jjohns@med.unc.edu
Insights
Prenatal cocaine exposure and rearing by cocaine-exposed mothers disrupt maternal behavior in young rats. These effects were observed in both male and female offspring at early developmental stages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Maternal behavior onset is crucial for offspring survival and development.
- Previous studies linked impaired maternal behavior in rat dams to cocaine exposure.
- The impact of cocaine exposure on pup-induced maternal behavior in non-lactating rats, considering rearing conditions, remains under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure and maternal rearing environment on pup-induced maternal behavior in first-generation offspring.
- To assess these effects in both male and female rats at different developmental stages (postnatal days 28 and 60).
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to cocaine prenatally or reared by cocaine-treated dams.
- First-generation male and female offspring were tested for pup-induced maternal behavior.
- Behavioral tests were conducted at postnatal days 28 and 60.
Main Results:
- Disruptions in pup-induced maternal behavior were observed in offspring.
- These behavioral disruptions were linked to both rearing conditions and prenatal cocaine exposure.
- Effects were evident in both juvenile (day 28) and young adult (day 60) offspring.
Conclusions:
- Both prenatal cocaine exposure and rearing by cocaine-exposed mothers significantly impair pup-induced maternal behavior in rats.
- These findings highlight the lasting neurodevelopmental consequences of early-life cocaine exposure on social behaviors.
- Understanding these effects is critical for addressing potential long-term impacts on social bonding and caregiving.
Abstract:
Impaired onset of maternal behavior in first generation rat dams was previously correlated with rearing by cocaine-treated dams and prenatal cocaine exposure. Pup-induced maternal behavior in non-lactating rats has not been examined with regard to cocaine exposure and rearing conditions. First generation male and female juveniles and young adult males reared by cocaine-treated or control dams and prenatally exposed to either cocaine or control conditions were tested for pup-induced maternal behavior at postnatal days 28 and 60. We now report disruptions in pup-induced maternal behavior in both 28 and 60 day old first generation offspring attributable to rearing condition and prenatal cocaine exposure.
