Figure 3
From: Alterations of the Host Microbiome Affect Behavioral Responses to Cocaine
Depletion of intestinal bacteria enhances behavioral responses to cocaine.
(a) Control animals (H2O) and antibiotic-treated animals (Abx) exhibited no difference in place preference for cocaine at a dose of 10 mg/kg (n = 6 H2O, 8 Abx). (b) Conditioned place preference assay at a 5 mg/kg dose did not produce significant preference in control animals, but Abx-treated animals formed a robust preference for the cocaine-paired side (***p < 0.0001; n = 11 H2O, 22 Abx). (c) When both sides of the assay were paired with saline there was no detectable preference or group difference (n = 5/group). (d) Both control and antibiotic-treated mice developed locomotor sensitization in response to cocaine treatment, but there were no between group differences (n =  5/group). (e) Antibiotic-treated mice show an enhanced locomotor response to repeated doses of 5 mg/kg cocaine (*p < 0.05; n = 5/group).
