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Effect of yohimbine stress on reacquisition of oxycodone seeking in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Stress, a powerful precipitant of drug seeking during abstinence, may also accelerate the return to pathological patterns of intake after initial instances of drug reuse.

Objective

To explore the effect of stress on a learning process underlying relapse, this study assessed the effect of yohimbine on reacquisition of oxycodone seeking.

Methods

One hundred thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent place conditioning with oxycodone (2 mg/kg, SC; ×6 days), extinction (vehicle × 6 days), and reconditioning with 0, 0.25, 2, or 5 mg/kg oxycodone (2 days). Yohimbine (0, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg, IP) was administered 30 min prior to reconditioning.

Results

Pretreatment with 2.5 mg/kg yohimbine increased, while 5 mg/kg yohimbine decreased, reacquisition of oxycodone-induced place preference. A follow-up study (n = 30) further indicated that the effect of yohimbine was specific to reacquisition.

Conclusion

The observation that yohimbine can enhance reacquisition of oxycodone seeking supports the hypothesis that stress can facilitate learning processes involved in the unfolding of relapse.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and by a New Emerging Team Grant (#79919) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

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Correspondence to Francesco Leri.

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Campbell, A.T., Kwiatkowski, D., Boughner, E. et al. Effect of yohimbine stress on reacquisition of oxycodone seeking in rats. Psychopharmacology 222, 247–255 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2640-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2640-1

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