Journal: Bio-protocol
Article Title: A Male Mouse Model of WIN 55,212–2 Self-Administration to Study Cannabinoid Addiction
doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5652
Figure Lengend Snippet: An intraperitoneal injection of WIN 55,212-2 (0.1 mg/kg) is administered 24 h before the first self-administration session to minimize the aversive effects of the initial cannabinoid exposure. During the first week of operant training, mice acquire WIN 55,212-2 self-administration under fixed-ratio (FR) schedules, with 5 sessions at FR1 followed by 5 sessions at FR2. Sessions 1–10 and 12 include a 15-min drug-free period (DFP), but only the latest 8–10 sessions are used to quantify persistence of responding, the first addiction-like criterion. In session 11, motivation for WIN 55,212-2 is assessed using a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule, providing the second criterion. FR2 session is then re-established in session 12 to stabilize responding before punishment testing. In session 13, compulsivity-like behavior is evaluated in a foot-shock punishment test, yielding the third diagnostic criterion and allowing classification of mice as addicted or non-addicted. Extinction training is conducted in sessions 14–23, and in session 24, a cue-induced reinstatement test is performed to probe relapse-like drug seeking and obtain the parameters related to craving.
Article Snippet: Mouse operant self-administration chambers (Med Associates, model: ENV-307A-CT) Operant chambers are equipped with two nose-poke holes (holes of 1.2 cm diameter), one randomly selected as the active nose poke and the other as the inactive.
Techniques: Injection, Diagnostic Assay