Effects of adolescent methylphenidate administration on methamphetamine conditioned place preference in an animal model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Examination of potential sex differences

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 252; p. 110970
• Main Authors: Yates, Justin R., Broderick, Maria R., Berling, Kevin L., Gieske, M. Grace, Osborn, Ethan, Nelson, M. Ray, Wright, Makayla R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Conditioned place preference; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine - pharmacology; Methylphenidate - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Inbred WKY; Reinstatement; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Spontaneously hypertensive rat; Wistar Kyoto rat; Sex differences; Spontaneously hypertensive rat; Conditioned place preference; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Reinstatement; Wistar Kyoto rat
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110970

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder; however, the effects of long-term psychostimulant treatment on addiction are mixed. Preclinical studies are useful for further elucidating the relationship between ADHD and addiction-like behaviors, but these studies have focused on male subjects only. The goal of the current study was to determine if early-life administration of methylphenidate (MPH) augments methamphetamine (METH) conditioned place preference (CPP) and/or potentiates reinstatement of CPP in both male and female rats. Male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) received either MPH (1.5mg/kg; p.o.) or vehicle (1.0ml/kg) during adolescence (postnatal day [PND] ~29–57). Two weeks after cessation of MPH treatment, rats were tested for METH CPP (1.0mg/kg or 2.0mg/kg; s.c.). Rats were then given extinction sessions. Once rats met extinction criteria, they were tested for reinstatement of CPP following a priming injection of METH (0.25mg/kg; s.c.). All groups developed METH CPP, except vehicle-treated SHR males and vehicle-treated WKY females conditioned with the higher dose of METH (2.0mg/kg). Female SHRs treated with MPH showed greater reinstatement of METH CPP compared to female SHRs treated with vehicle. Adolescent MPH treatment did not augment the locomotor-stimulant effects of METH in adulthood. These results demonstrate the importance of considering biological sex when prescribing psychostimulant medications for ADHD as long-term MPH administration may increase the risk of continued drug use in females with ADHD following a period of abstinence. •Adolescent administration of MPH increases reinstatement of METH CPP in SHR females.•Adolescent MPH treatment does not augment the locomotor-stimulant effects of METH.•SHR females are more sensitive to the locomotor-stimulant effects of METH.