ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Etonitazene reinforcement
;
Oral selfadministration
;
Food deprivation
;
Food access
;
Concurrent schedules
;
Rats
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Recent research has shown that food deprivation increases drug self-administration in rats and rhesus monkeys. The purpose of the present study was to examine two variables related to this food-deprivation effect: maintenance of rats at reduced body weights and the absence of food. Etonitazene HCl was established as a reinforcer orally for 12 rats according to procedures previously used in experiments reported by this laboratory. Lever-pressing behavior was maintained under fixed-ratio (FR) schedules during daily 1-h sessions by etonitazene or water, which were available either concurrently or on alternating days. In the first experiment, six rats were maintained at 75% of their free-feeding weights. The effect of presenting the daily food allotment at 23, 4, 2, 1, or 0 h before their daily drug or water self-administration session was studied. When the rats were fed 23, 4, or 2 h before the session, etonitazene dipper presentations were at maximum levels and were substantially higher than for water. When the rats were fed during (0) or 1 h before the session, the number of etonitazene dipper presentations was lower, but it exceeded those for water. Under conditions of complete food satiation (0 h deprived-100% body weight), etonitazene and water dipper presentations were both low, and there were no differences between them. In the second experiment, six rats maintained at 75% of their free-feeding weights were trained to respond for etonitazene or water on alternating days. When they were subsequently food satiated (100% body weight), drug- and water-maintained behavior decreased to low levels. These rats were then deprived of food for 4 or 16 h before their daily 1-h session, and responding did not increase. Body weight did not decrease below 100%. These results suggest that maintenance at reduced body weight rather than the absence of food is the determinant of increased rates of drug-reinforced behavior.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00432128
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