Explicating Vulnerability and Resilience in Opioid Self-Administration in Middle Aged Rats
Project Number1R01DA057423-01A1
Former Number1R01DA057423-01
Contact PI/Project LeaderTAFFE, MICHAEL A.
Awardee OrganizationUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
Description
Abstract Text
Mortality statistics in the United States show a steady increase in deaths due to prescription
opioids over the past two decades, accompanied by a steep increase in heroin-related deaths
from 2011 onward and deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl from 2014 onward. An
unexpectedly steep rise in the drug-related overdose rate for middle aged to older adults (50-65)
in recent years has placed attention on the specific health risks for this population. Lethality data
are but the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem of opioid misuse and opioid use
disorders. Therefore, these studies seek to explore how the middle age range of adulthood may
influence opioid reward and addiction. The proposed studies will first determine any age-related
differences in the involuntary effects of opioids on locomotion, nociception and
thermoregulation. Studies will also use well established rat models of intravenous self-
administration to model reward, initial acquisition and escalation of opioid drug seeking in
young-adult and middle-aged rats. Additional experimentation will determine how brain reward
may be modified across the lifespan and how these changes may produce liability for, or
resilience against, prescription opioid abuse. Together, the Aims will investigate how the middle-
aged adult developmental stage may influence in vivo sensitivity to oxycodone, heroin and
fentanyl, relative to younger adulthood, and ultimately will investigate if middle age conveys any
change in the propensity for self-administration of opioids.
Public Health Relevance Statement
The opioid crisis has affected many sectors of the US population, including middle aged adults.
Laboratory models of opioid use adolescent and younger adult subjects, but information for the
middle-aged adult developmental stage are unknown. These studies will further our
understanding of any specific liabilities for opioid addiction that may be associated with middle
age.
NIH Spending Category
No NIH Spending Category available.
Project Terms
AcuteAdolescenceAdolescent and Young AdultAdultAffectAgeAge MonthsAge YearsAgingAnimal ModelAttentionBehaviorBehavioralBrainCessation of lifeCognitive agingCommunicationDataDementiaDevelopmentDoseEnvironmental Risk FactorEpidemiologyFentanylHealthHeroinHumanInhalationIntravenousInvestigationLaboratoriesLaboratory RatLocomotionMaintenanceMarketingModelingMorphineNeurobiologyNociceptionOpiate AddictionOpioidOralOutcomeOverdoseOxycodonePaperPharmaceutical PreparationsPhysiologic ThermoregulationPhysiologicalPopulationPublishingRattusResearchRewardsRiskRouteSelf AdministrationStimulantSubstance abuse problemTrainingUnited Statesaddictionage differenceage effectagedantinociceptionheroin usein vivolife historylife spanmiddle agemortality statisticsnicotine vaporolder adultopioid epidemicopioid misuseopioid useopioid use disorderoverdose riskoxycodone self-administrationpharmacologicpostnatalpre-clinicalprescription opioidprescription opioid abuseresiliencerespiratorysocialstatisticssynthetic opioidvaporyoung adult
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