Sex Differences in the Development of an Opioid Addiction-Like Phenotype: A Focus on the Telescoping Effect.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women develop addiction and drug-related health consequences after fewer years of drug use than men; this accelerated time course, or telescoping effect, has been observed clinically for multiple drugs, including opioids. Preclinical studies indicate that this is a biologically based phenomenon; however, these studies have focused exclusively on cocaine, and none have considered health effects.

Methods

In this study, we used a rat (Sprague Dawley) model to determine sex differences in the time course for the development of an opioid addiction-like phenotype, as defined by the development of physical dependence (withdrawal-induced weight loss) and an increase in motivation for fentanyl (under a progressive-ratio schedule). Effects were determined following either 1

SUBMITTER: Towers EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11416664 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature