Premium
Omega‐3 deprivation enhance anxiety‐like behaviors after abstinence from chronic cocaine consumption: possible synergistical effect of cocaine and nutrition
Author(s) -
Serrano Sergio,
Rodriguez Natalia,
Geste Jean Roussel,
Pompilus Marjory,
Wickensonn Norze,
MaldonadoVlaar Carmen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.671.18
Subject(s) - elevated plus maze , anxiogenic , anxiety , abstinence , addiction , anxiolytic , psychology , physiology , extinction (optical mineralogy) , polyunsaturated fatty acid , corticosterone , self administration , analysis of variance , medicine , endocrinology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , fatty acid , chemistry , hormone , mineralogy , organic chemistry
Adolescence is a transition process that is crucial for brain maturation. Insults during this critical period can permanently damage or alter the brain's normal structure and function in adulthood. Deficiencies of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially omega‐3 (ω‐3), are proposed to play a critical role during these sensitive periods, predisposing individuals to behavioral and cognitive deficits. The objective of the present study was to assess whether nutritional ω‐3 deprivation from pre‐puberty to adulthood would lead to changes in addictive behaviors increasing the potential of anxiety and cocaine self‐administration (SA). Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (P21) were randomly assigned to one of two diet groups: standard rodent lab chow (n=8) or low ω‐3 rodent lab chow (n=11). The groups began both diets upon their arrival to the animal house and continued it until the end of the experiment. Lever‐pressing activity under a fixed‐ratio schedule was recorded for statistical analysis. Following the self‐administration experiment, anxiogenic‐like behaviors were evaluated using the elevated plus maze test (EPM). Prolonged dietary deprivation of ω‐3 did not exert any significant effect in lever‐pressing activity through the acquisition, extinction, or reinstatement phases. However, ω‐3‐deficient animals showed enhanced anxiety‐like behaviors after 14 days of cocaine abstinence. Based on our results, we can speculate that ω‐3‐deficient rats and chronic cocaine consumption might synergistically influence the stress susceptibility, consequently modulating the incidence of stress‐related behaviors. Considering our results, it will be appealing to determine whether these behavioral aspects, which are highly comorbid with addiction, could contribute or intensify the stress‐induced reinstatement. Nevertheless, we cannot exclude the possibility of dissimilar outcomes with other addictive drugs and/or behaviors that might be also influenced. Future experiments need to examine a higher drug concentration, prolonged diet consumption, and extended time‐examination period to arrive at a more definite conclusion. Support or Funding Information NIH‐RISE (2R25GM061151‐13), FIPI (120051574)