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Meal schedule influences food restriction-induced locomotor sensitization to methamphetamine

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Abstract

Rationale

Traditional protocols for inducing sensitization to psychostimulants use an intermittent or “binge”-like drug administration, and binge eating behavior is comorbid with drug abuse in humans. Food restriction increases the reinforcing properties and self-administration of many drugs of abuse.

Objective

The present study tested the hypotheses that (1) food restriction induces sensitization to the locomotor stimulation observed in response to methamphetamine and (2) a binge-like feeding schedule during food restriction produces increased sensitization compared to equally restricted mice fed in three daily meals.

Methods

Male DBA/2J mice were fed ad libitum or were food restricted to either an 8% or 16% loss of body weight. Additionally, the food-restricted mice were divided into two groups that were fed in either one meal (binge) or three equal-sized meals (meal). After the reduced body weight was stable, mice were tested for locomotor activity following saline and methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) injections.

Results

Both 16% body weight loss groups exhibited sensitization to methamphetamine. Opposite to our hypothesis, the 8% meal but not the 8% binge food-restricted group demonstrated locomotor sensitization. Serum corticosterone levels were significantly higher in the meal-fed groups when compared to the binge- and ad libitum-fed groups.

Conclusions

These results support a role for feeding schedule and plasma corticosterone levels in food restriction-induced enhancement of the effects of methamphetamine.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Sarah Y. Branch, Calais S. Williams, and Dr. Carlos A. Paladini for their helpful contributions. All experiments performed comply with the state, local, and federal laws.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC7756, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Amanda L. Sharpe, Joshua D. Klaus & Michael J. Beckstead

  2. Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC7756, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Michael J. Beckstead

Authors
  1. Amanda L. Sharpe
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  2. Joshua D. Klaus
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  3. Michael J. Beckstead
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Beckstead.

Additional information

This work was funded by a Research Enhancement Fund through the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute, a K01 award through the National Institutes of Health (DA21699) to MJB, and an American Heart Association grant (SDG4350066) to ALS. The authors acknowledge that there are no conflicts of interest, either real or perceived.

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Sharpe, A.L., Klaus, J.D. & Beckstead, M.J. Meal schedule influences food restriction-induced locomotor sensitization to methamphetamine. Psychopharmacology 219, 795–803 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2401-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2401-6

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