effects of cocaine pre-exposure and maternal deprivation in the self-administration of cocaine and amphetamine in neonatal rats

The effects of cocaine exposure and maternal deprivation on subsequent voluntary ingestion of cocaine and amphetamine was investigated in 7-day-old rat pups in order to further our understanding on the development of drug addiction. Maternally deprived and non-deprived pups were pre-exposed to a cocaine solution masked with 5% orange Tang solution. Four hours later, experimental pups were tested for subsequent cocaine self-administration (SA) (Exp. 1) or amphetamine SA, (Exp. 2), following a second deprivation period. Control pups were not deprived during this interval. Pups in both experiments were assessed for dose self-administered and for general activity. Results indicate that cocaine pre-exposure increased cocaine and amphetamine SA, and activity significantly increased after pre-exposure and testing sessions. Lastly, sensitization of the motor effects of cocaine was observed in pups pre-exposed to cocaine. This study provides a potential drug SA animal model not yet investigated in developing animals.