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Published on: November 11, 2013
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Environmental enrichment as a potential intervention for heroin seeking
E Galaj1, M Manuszak2, R Ranaldi3
1CUNY, The Graduate Center, United States.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|April 30, 2016
Summary
Environmental enrichment (EE) after heroin exposure significantly reduces heroin seeking behavior and prevents conditioned place preference. This behavioral approach can diminish the impact of drug-related cues on addiction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Heroin-related cues trigger craving and relapse in humans and drug-seeking behavior in rats.
- Understanding factors that mitigate cue-induced relapse is crucial for addiction treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if environmental enrichment (EE) after heroin exposure can reduce cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking.
- To determine if EE can prevent the expression of heroin conditioned place preference (CPP).
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Rats with a heroin self-administration habit were housed in enriched or non-enriched environments, underwent extinction, and were tested for cue-induced reinstatement.
- Experiment 2: Rats were conditioned with heroin/saline, exposed to 30 days of enrichment or no enrichment, and tested for heroin CPP.
Main Results:
- EE significantly reduced responding during the cue-induced reinstatement test in Experiment 1.
- EE prevented the expression of heroin conditioned place preference in Experiment 2.
Conclusions:
- Environmental enrichment is an effective behavioral strategy to reduce heroin seeking behavior.
- EE can diminish the influence of conditioned cues on relapse and drug-associated memories.
