DAYA METHAMPHETAMINE ('METH') ADDICTION STUDIES (DSB.AD004.360)

Thematic area

Biomedical sciences

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of neuroscience (IN)

Project manager

LIANA FATTORE
Phone number: 0706754327
Email: liana.fattore@in.cnr.it

Abstract

Rationale. Sensitivity to METH rewarding effects are well known to differ between men and women,1-5 with female rats self-administering more METH and escalating intake faster than males during extended daily access.6 Therefore, to assess potential effectiveness of DDD-024, and to ensure that the results will be clinically 'translatable,' DDD-024 will be tested in both male and female rats. The use of both sexes is consistent with NIH guidelines and recommendations.

Goals

Research design: Thirty animals (15 males + 15 females) are the minimum number of rats required to verify the effectiveness of a compound in subjects self-administering METH. Animals will be trained and given sufficient time to reach a stable level of drug intake (i.e. animals have to acquire and stabilize their responding for the drug). The study will achieve the following goals: (i) determine a dose-response curve using a within-subject protocol, in which different doses are tested on the same animal, and to (ii) discriminate between drug-taking (responding under the drug) and drug-seeking (responding in the absence of the drug) during drug abstinence; and (iii) assessing the effect of DDD-024 on drug craving and the risk to resume drug seeking in abstinent subjects. The SA boxes are customized and equipped with the necessary to monitor the locomotor activity during the SA session, in order to detect any potentially confounding motor side effects of either the self-administered drug and/or DDD-024.

Start date of activity

01/08/2021

Keywords

metamfetamina, modelli di dipendenza, farmacologia

Last update: 26/04/2025