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Dose-dependent effects of differential rearing on amphetamine-induced hyperactivity
Mary E Cain1, Marian G Mersmann, Margaret J Gill
1Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Behavioural Pharmacology
|October 10, 2012
Summary
Environmental enrichment in rats reduces amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and sensitization. These findings suggest enrichment directly attenuates psychostimulant responses, rather than isolation increasing them.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Environmental rearing conditions significantly influence psychostimulant responses.
- Environmental enrichment typically decreases locomotor activity to psychostimulants, while isolation increases it.
- The specific mechanisms underlying these rearing effects remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether environmental enrichment attenuates amphetamine-induced hyperactivity.
- To compare the effects of enriched, isolated, and standard rearing conditions on amphetamine responses.
- To determine if enrichment effects are due to direct attenuation or a contrast with isolation effects.
Main Methods:
- Rats were reared under enriched, isolated, or standard conditions.
- Amphetamine-induced hyperactivity was assessed following acute, repeated, and sensitization protocols.
- Low (0.3 mg/kg) and moderate (1.0 mg/kg) doses of amphetamine were administered.
Main Results:
- Enriched rearing slowed the acquisition of amphetamine-induced hyperactivity.
- Enrichment attenuated amphetamine-induced sensitization at the low dose.
- Standard and isolated rearing conditions showed similar responses, closer to each other than to enriched conditions.
Conclusions:
- Environmental enrichment directly attenuates amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and sensitization.
- The observed effects are attributable to the enrichment manipulation itself.
- These findings differentiate the impact of enrichment from the potential effects of isolation on psychostimulant responses.
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