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Eating high fat chow enhances the locomotor-stimulating effects of cocaine in adolescent and adult female rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Dopamine systems vary through development in a manner that can impact drugs acting on those systems. Dietary factors can also impact the effects of drugs acting on dopamine systems.

Objectives

This study examined whether eating high fat chow alters locomotor effects of cocaine (1–56 mg/kg) in adolescent and adult female rats.

Methods

Cocaine was studied in rats (n = 6/group) with free access to standard (5.7% fat) or high fat (34.3%) chow or restricted access to high fat chow (body weight matched to rats eating standard chow).

Results

After 1 week of eating high fat chow (free or restricted access), sensitivity to cocaine was significantly increased in adolescent and adult rats, compared with rats eating standard chow. Sensitivity to cocaine was also increased in adolescent rats with restricted, but not free, access to high fat chow for 4 weeks. When adolescent and adult rats that previously ate high fat chow ate standard chow, sensitivity to cocaine returned to normal. In adolescent and adult female rats eating high fat chow, but not those eating standard chow, sensitivity to cocaine increased progressively over once weekly tests with cocaine (i.e., sensitization) in a manner that was not statistically different between adolescents and adults.

Conclusions

These results show that eating high fat chow alters sensitivity of female rats to acutely administered cocaine and also facilitates the development of sensitization to cocaine. That the type of food consumed can increase drug effects might have relevance to vulnerability to abuse cocaine in the female population.

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Acknowledgments

CPF is supported by a Senior Scientist Award (KO5 DA17918).

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The authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, USA, 78229-3900

    Michelle G. Baladi, Wouter Koek, Megan Aumann, Fortino Velasco & Charles P. France

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Wouter Koek & Charles P. France

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  1. Michelle G. Baladi
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  2. Wouter Koek
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  3. Megan Aumann
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  4. Fortino Velasco
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  5. Charles P. France
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Correspondence to Charles P. France.

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Baladi, M.G., Koek, W., Aumann, M. et al. Eating high fat chow enhances the locomotor-stimulating effects of cocaine in adolescent and adult female rats. Psychopharmacology 222, 447–457 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2663-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2663-7

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