Opioid withdrawal produces sex-specific effects on fentanyl-vs.-food choice and mesolimbic transcription.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid withdrawal is a key driver of opioid addiction and an obstacle to recovery. However, withdrawal effects on opioid reinforcement and mesolimbic neuroadaptation are understudied and the role of sex is largely unknown.

Methods

Male (n=13) and female (n=12) rats responded under a fentanyl-vs.-food "choice" procedure during daily 2h sessions. In addition to the daily choice sessions, rats were provided extended access to fentanyl during 12h self-administration sessions. After two weeks of this self-administration regimen, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of a subset of rats were subjected to RNA sequencing. In the remaining rats, a third week of this self-administration regimen was conducted, during which methadone effects on fentanyl

SUBMITTER: Townsend EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8389189 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature