Presentation Type
Paper
Abstract
The present experiment is extends work from Badanich and colleagues (2006), and Brown (2008). Sprague-Dawley rats can be conditioned with 20 mg/kg cocaine, meaning rats will pair cues, with the physical effects of cocaine. By associating cues with the physical effects of cocaine, the rats seek out these cues to recapture the physical effects of cocaine. Brown (2008) examined the impact of 0.2 mg/kg MK-801, a glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on conditioned place preference (CPP) in adult male rats. Mk-801 blocks the NMDA receptor from releasing glutamate, and in turn blocks drug-associated memories. This experiment investigates the effects of 0.2 mg/kg of MK-801 in adolescent male rats conditioned with saline or cocaine. Initial chamber preference is assessed. Once preference is determined, the rat is conditioned with either saline or Mk-801 in the least preferred chamber on alternating days. After conditioning, the rat is tested for its preferred chamber. Control groups shows that Mk-801 does not affect chamber preference. The cocaine-saline group should show a shift in chamber preference because the rats should seek the cocaine-paired environment. The cocaine-MK-801 group should show not show a change in chamber preference in order to support cocaine reconsolidation disruption was due to Mk-801.
Categories
Behavioral Sciences
Research Type
Thesis
Mentor Information
Antoniette Maldonado-Devincci, M.A., A.B.D, Doctoral Candidate
Included in
Mk-801 Administration in Adolescent Male Rats and Cocaine Conditioned Place Preference
The present experiment is extends work from Badanich and colleagues (2006), and Brown (2008). Sprague-Dawley rats can be conditioned with 20 mg/kg cocaine, meaning rats will pair cues, with the physical effects of cocaine. By associating cues with the physical effects of cocaine, the rats seek out these cues to recapture the physical effects of cocaine. Brown (2008) examined the impact of 0.2 mg/kg MK-801, a glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on conditioned place preference (CPP) in adult male rats. Mk-801 blocks the NMDA receptor from releasing glutamate, and in turn blocks drug-associated memories. This experiment investigates the effects of 0.2 mg/kg of MK-801 in adolescent male rats conditioned with saline or cocaine. Initial chamber preference is assessed. Once preference is determined, the rat is conditioned with either saline or Mk-801 in the least preferred chamber on alternating days. After conditioning, the rat is tested for its preferred chamber. Control groups shows that Mk-801 does not affect chamber preference. The cocaine-saline group should show a shift in chamber preference because the rats should seek the cocaine-paired environment. The cocaine-MK-801 group should show not show a change in chamber preference in order to support cocaine reconsolidation disruption was due to Mk-801.
