Social dominance in rats: effects on cocaine self-administration, novelty reactivity and dopamine receptor binding and content in the striatum.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Studies in human and non-human primates demonstrate that social status is an important determinant of cocaine reinforcement. However, it is unclear whether social rank is associated with other traits that also predispose to addiction and whether social status similarly predicts cocaine self-administration in rats.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate whether social ranking assessed using a resource competition task affects (i) the acquisition, maintenance and reinstatement of cocaine self-administration; (ii) the dopaminergic markers in the striatum; and (iii) the expression of ancillary traits for addiction.

Methods

Social ranking was determined in group-housed rats based upon drinking times during competition for a highly palatable liqu

SUBMITTER: Jupp B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4726718 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature