Consumption of diets high in fat and/or sucrose enhances the locomotor stimulatory effects of cocaine in male and female C57Bl/6J mice (848.7)

Abstract

Drug abuse and obesity are serious public health problems. Dopamine systems play a central role in mediating the reinforcing effects of drugs and food, and the prolonged use of drugs or consumption of palatable food is known to alter the function and/or sensitivity of many neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine systems. The current studies evaluated the impact of consuming a high‐fat diet and/or a 10% sucrose solution on the sensitivity of adult mice (8 males and 8 females per condition) to the locomotor effects of cocaine (3.2‐32.0 mg/kg) across four weekly tests. The acute locomotor stimulatory effects of cocaine were enhanced in both male and female mice that consumed diets high in fat and/or sucrose, relative to mice that consumed standard chow and water. Although these diet‐induced enhancements generally persisted with repeated cocaine testing, sensitization to the locomotor effects of cocaine developed more rapidly in female mice drinking sucrose (and consuming either standard or high‐fat chow), relative to sex‐matched mice consuming standard chow and water; mice from all other feeding conditions developed sensitization at a rate comparable to their standard chow and water counterparts. The results of these studies provide clear evidence that consuming diets high in fat and/or sugar enhances cocaine effects in ways that might increase vulnerability to abuse cocaine.Grant Funding Source: Supported by K05 DA017918 and a Zannoni (SURF) Fellowship through ASPET