Source Paper
Time-Dependent Increases in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Protein Levels within the Mesolimbic Dopamine System after Withdrawal from Cocaine: Implications for Incubation of Cocaine Craving
Jeffrey W. Grimm, Lin Lu, Teruo Hayashi, Bruce T. Hope, Tsung-Ping Su et al.
Journal of Neuroscience • 2003
Sucrose Self-Administration Training
Objective: To train rats to self-administer oral sucrose by lever pressing with tone-light cue pairing, and assess cue-induced reinstatement of sucrose-seeking behavior at different withdrawal timepoints
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment2
Materials1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Sucrose self-administration training
Rats trained to press a lever to receive oral sucrose reward
Note: Each earned reward was paired with a tone-light cue presentation
View evidence from paper
“Rats were trained to press a lever to receive intravenous cocaine or oral sucrose for 6 hr/d for 10 d; each earned reward was paired with a tone–light cue”
Reward withdrawal period
Rats underwent withdrawal from sucrose reward for specified durations before testing
Note: Different cohorts of rats were tested at different withdrawal timepoints
View evidence from paper
“Resumption of lever-pressing behavior was then assessed on days 1, 30, or 90 of reward withdrawal”
Extinction test
Assessment of resistance to extinction during period when lever presses were not reinforced and cue was absent
Note: Lever pressing behavior was measured during this period
View evidence from paper
“First, resistance to extinction was assessed during 6 hr in which lever presses were not reinforced and the cue was absent”
Cue-induced reinstatement test
Assessment of cue-induced reinstatement after extinction period where responding led to cue presentations
Note: Conducted after extinction test; cues were presented contingent on lever presses
View evidence from paper
“Second, cue-induced reinstatement was assessed after extinction during 1 hr in which responding led to cue presentations”