Effects of adolescent caffeine consumption on cocaine self-administration and reinstatement of cocaine seeking

Abstract

Background:

Caffeine consumption by children and adolescents has risen dramatically in recent years, yet the lasting effects of caffeine consumption during adolescence remain poorly understood.

Aim:

These experiments explore the effects of adolescent caffeine consumption on cocaine self-administration and seeking using a rodent model.

Methods:

Sprague-Dawley rats consumed caffeine for 28 days during the adolescent period. Following the caffeine consumption period, the caffeine solution was replaced with water for the remainder of the experiment. Age-matched control rats received water for the duration of the study. Behavioral testing in a cocaine self-administration procedure occurred during adulthood (postnatal days 62–82) to evaluate how adolescent caffeine exposure influenced the reinforcing properties of cocaine. Cocaine seeking was also tested during extinction training and reinstatement tests following cocaine self-administration.

Results:

Adolescent caffeine consumption increased the acquisition of cocaine self-administration and increased performance on different schedules of reinforcement. Consumption of caffeine in adult rats did not produce similar enhancements in cocaine self-administration. Adolescent caffeine consumption also produced an upward shift in the U-shaped dose response curve on cocaine self-administration maintained on a within-session dose-response procedure. Adolescent caffeine consumption had no effect on cocaine seeking during extinction training or reinstatement of cocaine seeking by cues or cocaine.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that caffeine consumption during adolescence may enhance the reinforcing properties of cocaine, leading to enhanced acquisition that may contribute to increased addiction vulnerability.