Progesterone attenuates impulsive action in a Go/No-Go task for sucrose pellets in female and male rats

Abstract

Impulsivity, or a tendency to act without anticipation of future consequences, is associated with drug abuse. Impulsivity is typically separated into two main measures, impulsive action and impulsive choice. Given the association of impulsivity and drug abuse, treatments that reduce impulsivity have been proposed as an effective method for countering drug addiction. Progesterone has emerged as a promising treatment, as it is associated with decreased addiction-related behaviors and impulsive action. The goal of the present study was to determine the effects of progesterone (PRO) on impulsive action for food: a Go/No-Go task. Female and male rats responded for sucrose pellets during a Go component when lever pressing was reinforced on a variable-interval 30-s schedule. During the alternate No-Go component, withholding a lever press was reinforced on a differential reinforcement of other (DRO) behavior 30-s schedule, where a lever press reset the DRO timer. Impulsive action was operationally defined as the inability to withhold a response during the No-Go component (i.e. the number of DRO resets). Once Go/No-Go behavior was stable, responding between rats treated with PRO (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle was examined. Progesterone significantly decreased the total number of DRO resets in both males and females, but it did not affect VI responding for sucrose pellets. This suggests that PRO decreases motor impulsivity for sucrose pellets without affecting motivation for food. Thus, PRO may reduce motor impulsivity, a behavior underlying drug addiction.

Sex-specific attenuation of impulsive action by progesterone in a go/no-go task for cocaine in rats

“…However, a few studies have shown contradictory results (Fields et al, 2009) or no sex differences (Reynolds et al 2004; Townshend and Duka 2005; Fernie et al 2010). Previous results in our laboratory are consistent with the preclinical literature, as female rats made more premature errors in a Go/No-go task for cocaine (Anker et al 2008), and in a few other studies there were no sex differences in impulsive action with mice (Papaleo et al 2012) and rats (Anker et al 2008; Swalve et al, 2016a). In general, data are mixed on sex differences in impulsive action (see review by Fattore and Melis 2016), and little is known about the interaction between sex and impulsive action for cocaine use and its treatment.…”

“…The rationale for studying the effect of PRO on impulsive action is based on our previous finding that PRO reduced impulsive choice for cocaine in female but not male rats (Smethells et al 2016). Also, in another recent study PRO reduced impulsive action for sucrose pellets in both female and male rats (Swalve et al 2016a). Thus there may be differences in the effect of PRO on drug- vs. natural-rewards such as sucrose (Swalve et al 2016a).…”

“…Also, in another recent study PRO reduced impulsive action for sucrose pellets in both female and male rats (Swalve et al 2016a). Thus there may be differences in the effect of PRO on drug- vs. natural-rewards such as sucrose (Swalve et al 2016a). The goal of the present study was to examine sex differences in a Go/No-go task for a drug reinforcer (e.g.…”

“…The likely factor underlying this sex difference is that PRO, a female gonadal hormone, typically decreases drug-seeking behaviors more effectively in females vs. male animals (Anker et al 2009; Evans and Foltin 2010; Zlebnik et al 2014; Smethells et al 2016) and humans (Evans and Foltin 2006; Fox et al 2013; Saladin et al 2015; Milivojevik et al 2016; for reviews, see Evans and Foltin 2010; Quinones-Jenab and Jenab 2012; Carroll and Lynch 2016; Carroll and Smethells 2016, Wetherill et al 2016). Interestingly, PRO decreased impulsive action for sucrose pellets in a Go/No-go procedure in both male and female rats (Swalve et al 2016a). Impulsivity has been described in two major forms, impulsive choice and impulsive action.…”

Progesterone for smoking relapse prevention following delivery: A pilot, randomized, double-blind study

“…Further, progesterone has been shown to improve response inhibition in both preclinical and clinical studies. In a Go/No-Go food task, rats treated with progesterone showed decreased impulsivity (Swalve et al, 2016). In clinical laboratory studies, our group has demonstrated that progesterone, both endogenous, in abstinent female smokers in luteal phase, and exogenous, 200 mg/day in current female smokers, improves cognitive performance on a Stroop task (DeVito et al, 2014; Sofuoglu et al, 2011).…”