Cocaine induces state-dependent learning of sexual conditioning in male Japanese quail (original) (raw)

Cocaine preexposure enhances sexual conditioning and increases resistance to extinction in male Japanese quail

Learning & behavior, 2017

The incentive-sensitization theory posits that drug addiction results from altered learning and motivational processes that stem from drug-induced changes in the brain's reward circuitry. Although it is generally accepted that problematic drug use results from these neuroadaptations, less research has focused on how these neural changes affect the incentive-motivational properties of naturally rewarding stimuli such as sex. The present set of experiments was conducted to investigate (1) dose-dependent effects of preexposure to chronic cocaine on sexual conditioning and (2) how prior cocaine exposure affects the extinction of sexually conditioned behavior in male Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, male quail were exposed to saline or to cocaine (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg ip) for 10 days, and their locomotor activity was measured. After a washout period, ten sexual-conditioning trials were conducted in which a light (CS) was presented prior to the presentation of a female quail (US) and ap...

Chronic pre-exposure to methamphetamine following 31 days of withdrawal impairs sexual performance but not sexual conditioning in male Japanese quail

Behavioural Processes, 2012

In the current study, male quail were administered methamphetamine (3.0 or 5.6 mg/kg IP) or saline once-daily for 10 days and locomotor activity was assessed. Following a 31-day withdrawal period, sexual conditioning trials were conducted such that a conditioned stimulus (CS) was presented prior to a copulatory opportunity with a female quail. Male quail treated with methamphetamine (5.6 mg/kg) showed a decrease in locomotor activity from Trial 1 to Trial 10 suggesting a potential tolerance effect. Following the 31-day withdrawal period, all male quail that received the CS paired with a copulatory opportunity showed enhanced approach to the CS, regardless of treatment history. Thus, chronic pre-exposure to methamphetamine did not alter sexual conditioning. In contrast, chronic pre-exposure to methamphetamine (3.0 mg/kg) decreased the frequency of successful copulations suggesting that it impaired sexual performance. The findings suggest that methamphetamine may differentially affect the neural circuitry involved in motivational systems compared with those involved in consummatory aspects of sexual behavior. These effects may last long after drug cessation.

Cocaine sensitization in male quail: Temporal, conditioning, and dose-dependent characteristics

Physiology & behavior, 2007

Chronic cocaine administration typically results in increased locomotor activity, known as behavioral sensitization. Investigating the time course of locomotor activity across trials may provide a more detailed analysis of the temporal changes that might occur within sensitization. Prior research with rodents shows that the peak of locomotor activity shifts from acute to chronic drug administration. The purpose of the current experiment was to investigate acute versus chronic cocaine effects on locomotor activity in an avian species, Japanese quail, and to investigate whether this phenomenon is dose dependent. Subjects received daily ip injections of saline or 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg cocaine for 20 days. Following each injection, birds were placed in standard locomotor activity chambers, and activity was recorded for 150 min. A cocaine challenge was given after a ten-day withdrawal period. Two retraining trials were given to reestablish cocaine responding prior to a saline challenge in the drug-paired environment. Results showed that repeated administration of the 10 mg/kg dose of cocaine enhanced activity across 120 min compared with acute administration. In contrast, repeated administration of the 20 mg/kg dose resulted in greater cocaine-induced activity for 60 min compared with acute administration. In addition, behavioral sensitization was shown to be dose-dependent and appeared to be due, at least in part, to conditioning.

Cocaine-induced sensitization correlates with testosterone in male Japanese quail but not with estradiol in female Japanese quail

Hormones and behavior, 2015

Research has indicated that gonadal hormones may mediate behavioral and biological responses to cocaine. Estrogen, in particular, has been shown to increase behavioral responding to cocaine in female rats relative to male rats. The current study investigated the effect of cocaine on locomotor activity and hormonal correlates in male and female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). In Japanese quail, circulating hormone levels can be manipulated without surgical alterations via modifying the photoperiod. Male and female quail were housed on either 8L:16D (light:dark) or 16L:8D (light:dark) cycle for 21days. Blood samples were taken prior to the beginning of the experiment and assays were performed to determine the levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2). Quail were given injections of saline or cocaine (10 or 20mg/kg) once a day for 10days. Immediately after each injection, birds were placed in open field arenas and distance traveled was measured for 30min. Results showed that ma...

Dose-dependent cocaine place conditioning and D1 dopamine antagonist effects in male Japanese quail

Physiology & Behavior, 2004

The dopamine D1 receptor subtype has been implicated in drug reward processes in mammals. Two experiments investigated whether dose-dependent differences in cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) would be obtained in an avian species and whether these cocaine effects were mediated by the dopamine D1 antagonist R(±)-SCH23390. In Experiment 1, male birds were given intraperitoneal injections of 1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg of cocaine hydrochloride, paired with a chamber that contained distinct visual cues. On alternate days, they received saline paired with a chamber containing different visual cues. A CPP test was given after four pairings of cocaine with the distinct chamber. In Experiment 2, 0.0025, 0.025, or 0.25 mg/kg of SCH 23390 or saline was administered 15 min prior to cocaine (3 mg/kg) and placement into the least preferred chamber. CPP was observed at 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg doses of cocaine but not at 30 mg/kg or saline. All doses of SCH 23390 attenuated cocaine-induced CPP. The f...

Shock postponement reverses the effects of cocaine on the punished pecking of pigeons

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1994

Shock postponement reverses the effects of cocaine on the punished pecking of pigeons. PHARMACOL BIOCHEM BEHAV 48(2) 491-495, 1994.-The effects of cocaine on punished and unpunished key peck responding of pigeons was examined before and after a history of treadle pressing maintained by shock postponement. In one schedule component, the f'wst peck after 3 rain produced grain. The alternate component was similar, but every 30 responses was also punished by a mild shock. Punished responding occurred at approximately 25o/0 of the rate of unpunished responding. Cocaine (0.1-10.0 mg/kg IM) did not affect or decrease punished responding; unpunished responding was not systematically affected. Next, a foot treadle was installed and treadle presses postponed shocks for 25 s; shocks occurred every 5 s in the absence of pressing. The treadle was removed when shocks were reliably postponed. Next, the multiple schedule of key pecking was reinstated. At least one dose of cocaine now increased punished pecking; unpunished responding was not systematically altered. These results complement related f'mdings with monkeys and show that pigeons are suitable subjects for studying the reversal of the effects of cocaine on punished responding by a history of postponing shock. Cocaine Behavioral history Shock postponement Punished responding Treadle pressing Multiple schedule Fixed-interval schedule Pigeons

UCLA International Journal of Comparative Psychology Title Magnitude Effects of Sexual Reinforcement in Japanese Quail

2009

The effect of the magnitude of sexual reinforcement on the extinction of a running response was studied in quail. In Experiment 1, a group of subjects (L) received copulatory access to eight females, whereas a second group (S) received access to a single female. Both groups acquired the running response. During extinction, Group S showed a fast decrease in responding, whereas Group L persisted longer. In Experiment 2, males were allowed a choice between one or eight females. Preference for eight females demonstrated that males discriminated between the two reward magnitudes and that access to eight females had a larger reinforcing value than access to one female. The results are discussed within the context of the paradoxical reinforcement effects and the divergence in learning mechanisms in birds.

Acute and Chronic Effects of Cocaine on the Spontaneous Behavior of Pigeons

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2010

The present experiment examined the effects of acute and daily cocaine on spontaneous behavior patterns of pigeons. After determining the acute effects of a range of doses, 9 pigeons were divided into three groups that received one of three doses of cocaine daily, either 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg cocaine. Measures were taken of spontaneous locomotion, pecking, preening, and emesis. Under daily administration, cocaine induced consistent and substantial enhancements of its locomotor effects in all 9 pigeons, consistent with the phenomenon of locomotor sensitization. The maximum locomotor output did not differ according to the size of the daily dose. Locomotion was not elevated following tests of the saline vehicle, suggesting the effect was due to cocaine, not to a change in baseline or reactivity to the injection procedure. Cocaine dose-dependently decreased preening when given acutely, and those effects were not altered by repeated cocaine administration. Pecking occurred at very low rates and was unresponsive to cocaine treatment. Cocaine-induced emesis showed a dose-dependent increase under initial tests with cocaine, and those effects were attenuated following daily exposure. In a final condition, cocaine was replaced with daily saline for 30 days to assess the persistence cocaine-related increases in locomotion. Approximately half of the pigeons continued to show enhanced effects even after 30 days without cocaine, so although persistence was obtained, it showed marked intersubject variability. The data indicate that the effects of repeated cocaine administration on the behavior of pigeons shows parallels with many effects commonly reported with rodents (i.e., increased locomotion following repeated treatment, decrease in preening or grooming, persistence following drug withdrawal).

Influence of sex and estrous cyclicity on conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats

Psychopharmacology, 2005

Rationale: Sex differences have been reported in physiological and behavioral responses to cocaine, but it is unclear whether sex differences exist in conditioned-cued relapse to cocaine seeking after prolonged abstinence. Furthermore, the role of estrous cyclicity in conditionedcued relapse has not been investigated. Objective: We assessed the influence of sex and estrous cyclicity on conditioned-cued reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Rats were trained to selfadminister intravenous cocaine (unconditioned stimulus, US; 0.25, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, or 1.0 mg/kg per infusion) paired with light+tone conditioned stimuli (CSs) and were subsequently tested for the ability of the CSs to reinstate extinguished cocaine seeking (i.e., nonreinforced lever responding). Results: Females exhibited more responding on the cocaine-paired lever during self-administration and extinction than males. Subsequently, males exhibited equally robust conditioned-cued reinstatement of extinguished drug-seeking behavior independent of cocaine training dose. Males and females trained on 0.4-0.6 mg/kg cocaine reinstated to a similar extent. However, females trained on the lowest dose (0.25 mg/kg) exhibited less reinstatement than males, and the source of this effect was the absence of reinstatement in estrous females. In addition, independent of estrous state, females trained on the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) exhibited less reinstatement than males. Conclusions: While males and females are equally responsive to cocaine-paired CSs when the conditions for CS-US association are optimal, females appear to attribute less motivational significance to the CS when it presumably acquires weaker motivational salience because of (a) a low cocaine dose or (b) weaker CS-US contiguity due to the prolonged effects of a high cocaine dose.