Estrogens seem to play a role in the locomotor activating effects of cocaine. Japanese quail provide a good model for hormonal manipulation as alterations of their photoperiod controls hormone levels. The current study aims to examine the role of early life photoperiod manipulation in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in quail. It was expected that if quail were raised on a short photoperiod, they would have a reduction in gonadal hormones and this reduction in hormones would affect the acquisition of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. Quail were raised on an 8L:16D or a 16L:8D light cycle. Following 2 days of habituation, quail were administered saline, 5 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg cocaine for 10 days. Restricted photoperiods in early life were correlated to lower gonadal hormone levels in females and males. Male quail raised on the short-light cycle developed a sensitized response to 10 mg/kg cocaine. Female quail raised on the short- or long-photoperiod developed behavioral sensitization to 5 mg/kg cocaine. Furthermore, early life reduction in estradiol in females modulated the amount of activity on day 10 of cocaine treatment. The current research extends previous research by finding a possible early life gonadal hormone control of behavioral sensitization in the quail.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uky.edu/oai:uknowledge.uky.edu:psychology_etds-1147 |
| Date | 01 January 2018 |
| Creators | Eaton, Shannon Elizabeth |
| Publisher | UKnowledge |
| Source Sets | University of Kentucky |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations--Psychology |
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