Adolescent Social Stress Alters Morphine Behaviors in C57BL/6J Mice, but not BALB/cJ Mice.
Open Access
Author:
Peat, Aidan
Area of Honors:
Biobehavioral Health
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Helen Marie Kamens, Thesis Supervisor Helen Marie Kamens, Thesis Honors Advisor Sonia Angele Cavigelli, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Stress Genetics Opioids Biobehavioral Health Adolescence
Abstract:
The United States opioid epidemic has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and severe economic consequences. Given this public health crisis, it is imperative to investigate the factors influencing one’s susceptibility for an opioid use disorder. Research indicates that stress affects opioid use, leading to an increased risk of drug abuse. Furthermore, adolescence is a vulnerable time for neural development and stressors prevalent during this time may enhance drug abuse vulnerability. This study investigated whether chronic adolescent social stress, genetic background, and their interaction influence later morphine stimulation, sensitization, and consumption. Male and female BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J mice were exposed to chronic variable social stress or control conditions prior to morphine stimulation and sensitization, or consumption testing. Our data show that genetic background alters morphine responses such that C57BL/6J mice developed a sensitized response to morphine, but BALB/cJ mice did not. Further, in male C57BL/6J mice, adolescent social stress attenuated morphine sensitization. There was no influence of adolescent social stress on morphine stimulation or consumption in either strain. Together, our findings show that genetic and environmental factors present during adolescence influence behaviors related to opioid abuse.