Endogenous oxytocin is essential for the buffering effects of pair housing against the increase in cocaine reward induced by social stress

●Social defeat stress produces a long-term enhancement of cocaine reward●Positive social environment counteracts stress-induced enhancement of cocaine reward●Pair-housing buffering is dependent on oxytocin activity Social factors have a dual influence on addictive disorders. While social defeat stre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 2020-07, Vol.221, p.112913-112913, Article 112913
Main Authors: Ferrer-Pérez, Carmen, Reguilón, Marina D., Miñarro, José, Rodríguez-Arias, Marta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atosiban
Cocaine
Oxytocin
Social enrichment
Social stress
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Summary:●Social defeat stress produces a long-term enhancement of cocaine reward●Positive social environment counteracts stress-induced enhancement of cocaine reward●Pair-housing buffering is dependent on oxytocin activity Social factors have a dual influence on addictive disorders. While social defeat stress in rodents increases the response to drug reward, positive social conditions, such as pair housing, increase stress resilience. The objective of the present study was to confirm whether oxytocin (OT) mediates this social buffering. To this end, male mice were housed in pairs and administered the OT receptor antagonist atosiban prior to each stress episode or for ten days after the stress protocol. The response to cocaine was assessed using a conditioned place preference paradigm. Our results confirmed that OT activity mediates the protective effect of pair housing and highlights its therapeutic potential.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112913