Chronic forced exercise during adolescence decreases cocaine conditioned place preference in Lewis rats

Abstract

Chronic physical activity (exercise) may be beneficial in the prevention of substance use disorders; however, the extent to which physical activity can interfere with the reinforcing effects of drugs during the adolescent period, which is one of great vulnerability for drug experimentation, has not been fully evaluated. Here, we assess the effects of chronic forced exercise during adolescence on preference for cocaine using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm in male and female Lewis rats. The group of rats exposed to exercise ran on a treadmill for 6 weeks on a progressive time-increased schedule for up to 1 h of exercise per day, while the groups of sedentary rats remained in their home cage. Following the 6 weeks of exercise exposure, rats were tested for cocaine CPP. Results showed that chronic exercise significantly attenuated cocaine CPP in both males and females compared to a sedentary environment. Furthermore, male exercise rats failed to show significant cocaine CPP. In contrast, female exercise rats still showed cocaine CPP but it was significantly reduced compared to the female sedentary rats. Females also exhibited greater cocaine CPP than males overall. These findings suggest that strategies to promote physical activity during adolescence may be protective against cocaine abuse in both males and females, and these findings merit further investigation. We also corroborate a gender-specific sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of cocaine, highlighting the need to consider gender-tailored exercise interventions for drug abuse prevention.

Impact of an exercise intervention on methamphetamine use outcomes post residential treatment care

“…Findings extend emerging literature demonstrating beneficial effects of exercise on substance use outcomes in both preclinical (Thanos et al, 2010) and clinical (Brown et al, 2010;Buchowski et al, 2011) samples. In this study, a carry-over effect of exercise was demonstrated after discharge from residential treatment, as evidenced by reductions in MA use at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up visits; importantly, benefits of exercise in ameliorating relapse were sustained after completion of the intervention itself.…”

Acute social defeat stress increases the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine in adult but not in adolescent mice

“…restraint) against psychostimulant-induced CPP. For example, a single restraint or forced wheel-running session-arguably less intense stressors than repeated social defeat-have been shown to reduce CPP for amphetamine in adulthood or for cocaine when tested 1 day later (Richtand et al, 2012;Thanos et al, 2010). Therefore, it could be hypothesized that, if adolescent mice experience social defeat as a less intense stressor than adults, this experience can protect them against cocaine-induced CPP.…”

Does physical activity protect against drug abuse vulnerability?

“…Some studies have found that physical activity decreases stimulant and opiate CPP (Chen et al, 2008;Fontes-Ribeiro et al, 2011;Hosseini et al, 2009;Rozeske et al, 2011;Thanos et al, 2010), while others have reported either an increase or no effect (Geuzaine and Tirelli, 2014;Mustroph et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2008a). Multiple procedural variations among these studies do not allow for a cogent explanation for the discrepant findings.…”