High Fat, High Sugar Diet Exposure Influences Drug Preference Behaviors
Board Location: #97
Discipline: Neuroscience
Session: 1
Asia Smith - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Leikwaivion Davis, Howard University, Washington, DC ; Alexa Ryan, Howard University, Washington, DC ; Alyssa Roach, Howard University, Washington, DC; Kimberlei Richardson, Howard University, Washington, DC
Changes in neural reward processing because of binge eating may increase vulnerability to drug addiction. Our lab is focused on identifying neural systems that underlie the co-occurrence of binge eating and drug abuse and provide knowledge that can improve treatments for both disorders. It is not clear whether there are specific drugs of abuse that individuals with eating disorders more preferentially consume. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine whether rats with varying feeding phenotypes for high fat, high sugar pellets (PF) have distinct drug preference (morphine versus cocaine) and also whether the nutritional state of rats increases drug preference scores. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n=16) were used in nine intermittent feeding tests to determine phenotypes and preferences for PF. The control rats were only given standard rat chow. All rats underwent either morphine or cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) training and were assessed for drug reward. The data revealed that control rats had a significantly greater preference for morphine versus rats that received PF (p<0.05). However, rats with exposure to PF showed a significant cocaine preference versus control rats (p<0.05). We are currently investigating whether the nutritional state of the rats was influenced by drug preference scores. In another set of rats (n=10), they were trained for cocaine CPP first and then underwent PF feeding tests. Preliminary data show that cocaine preference scores after PF exposure were significantly higher than cocaine preference scores in rats before prior PF exposure. It appears that prior exposure to PF alters the mesolimbic reward pathway, and increases susceptibility to cocaine. Future investigations will determine whether differences in the activation of neurocircuitry involved in the reward pathway, specifically the ventral tegmental area, significantly contribute to cocaine preference in rats with PF exposure.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF Excellence In Research IOS1901546 (KAR)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kimberlei Richardson, kimberlei.richardson@howard.edu
Role: Conducted feeding studies and conditioned place preference testing.