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Estrous cycle dependent expression of oxycodone conditioned reward in rats
Jessica A Babb1,2, Nicholas J Constantino3, Gary B Kaplan4,5,6
1Research and Mental Health Services, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. jessica.babb@va.gov.
Scientific Reports
|August 25, 2023
Summary
Female rats
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Opioid painkillers like oxycodone are widely prescribed and misused.
- Biological sex and hormones may influence drug reward, but their effect on oxycodone is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of sex and hormonal status on oxycodone's rewarding effects in rats.
- To determine if sex influences oxycodone conditioned reward.
- To examine the role of the female estrous cycle in oxycodone reward.
Main Methods:
- Used place conditioning in gonadally intact adult Sprague-Dawley rats (male and female).
- Tested dose-response for oxycodone conditioned reward.
- Varied conditioning session length.
- Assessed reward expression across different stages of the female estrous cycle.
Main Results:
- Both male and female rats showed conditioned reward to similar oxycodone doses.
- Longer conditioning sessions did not reveal sex differences and reduced reward magnitude.
- Female rats' estrous cycle stage significantly altered oxycodone conditioned reward expression.
Conclusions:
- Female hormonal status modulates the rewarding effects of oxycodone.
- Findings have implications for opioid prescription and treatment practices.
- Sex and hormonal fluctuations are critical factors in opioid reward.
