Sex differences in the effect of chronic delivery of the buprenorphine analogue BU08028 on heroin relapse and choice in a rat model of opioid maintenance

Jennifer M. Bossert, E. Andrew Townsend, Lindsay K.P. Altidor, Ida Fredriksson, Aniruddha Shekara, Stephen Husbands, Agnieszka Sulima, Kenner C. Rice, Matthew L. Banks, Yavin Shaham

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16 Citations (SciVal)
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Abstract

Background and Purpose: Maintenance treatment with opioid agonists (buprenorphine, methadone) decreases opioid use and relapse. We recently modelled maintenance treatment in rats and found that chronic delivery of buprenorphine or the μ opioid receptor partial agonist TRV130 decreased relapse to oxycodone seeking and taking. Here, we tested the buprenorphine analogue BU08028 on different heroin relapse-related measures and heroin versus food choice. Experimental Approach: For relapse assessment, we trained male and female rats to self-administer heroin (6 h·day−1, 14 days) in Context A and then implanted osmotic minipumps containing BU08028 (0, 0.03 or 0.1 mg·kg−1·d−1). Effects of chronic BU08028 delivery were tested on (1) incubation of heroin-seeking in a non-drug Context B, (2) extinction responding reinforced by heroin-associated discrete cues in Context B, (3) reinstatement of heroin-seeking induced by re-exposure to Context A and (4) re-acquisition of heroin self-administration in Context A. For choice assessment, we tested the effect of chronic BU08028 delivery on heroin versus food choice. Key Results: Chronic BU08028 delivery decreased incubation of heroin seeking. Unexpectedly, BU08028 increased re-acquisition of heroin self-administration selectively in females. Chronic BU08028 had minimal effects on context-induced reinstatement and heroin versus food choice in both sexes. Finally, exploratory post hoc analyses suggest that BU08028 decreased extinction responding selectively in males. Conclusions and Implications: Chronic BU08028 delivery had both beneficial and detrimental, sex-dependent, effects on different triggers of heroin relapse and minimal effects on heroin choice in both sexes. Results suggest that BU08028 would not be an effective opioid maintenance treatment in humans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-241
Number of pages15
JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology
Volume179
Issue number2
Early online date10 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Intramural Research Program of NIDA (YS) and UG3DA050311 (MLB).

Funding

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Intramural Research Program of NIDA (YS) and UG3DA050311 (MLB).

Keywords

  • context-induced reinstatement
  • extinction
  • heroin choice
  • heroin self-administration
  • incubation of craving
  • opioid maintenance
  • reacquisition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

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