Male and female rats show opiate withdrawal-induced place aversion and extinction in a Y-maze paradigm

Fournier ML(1), Faugere A(1), Barba-Vila O(1), Le Moine C(2).

Author information:
(1)Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
(2)Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France. Electronic
address: .

Gender differences have been observed in the vulnerability to drug abuse and in
the different stages of the addictive process. In opiate dependence, differences
between sexes have been shown in humans and laboratory animals in various phases
of opiate addiction, especially in withdrawal-associated negative affective
states. Using a Y-maze conditioned place aversion paradigm, we investigated
potential sex differences in the expression and extinction of the aversive
memory of precipitated opiate withdrawal state in morphine-dependent rats. No
significant difference between sexes was observed in the occurrence of
withdrawal signs following naloxone injection during conditioning. Moreover,
opiate withdrawal memory expression and extinction following repeated testing
was demonstrated in both male and female rats, with no significant differences
between sexes. Finally, we report spontaneous recovery following extinction of
opiate withdrawal memory. Altogether these data provide further evidence that
persistent withdrawal-related memories may be strong drivers of opiate
dependence, and demonstrate that both males and females can be used in
experimental rodent cohorts to better understand opiate-related effects, reward,
aversive state of withdrawal, abstinence and relapse.

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Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors
declare no potential conflict of interest.

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus