Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on cocaine-conditioned place preference in mice.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess whether the administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) would lead to alterations in cocaine-conditioned place preference by correlating behavioral data and plasma levels of PUFAs.

Methods: Five groups of C57Bl/6J mice received a linseed oil supplement or a control solution for 19 days and were conditioned to cocaine.

Results: PUFAs did not exert a protective effect against cocaine-conditioned place-preference behavior, although there were significant differences in the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and linoleic acid among the groups tested. Higher doses of PUFAs might be necessary to induce a change in the plasma level of EPA in cocaine-conditioned mice.

Discussion: PUFAs had no effect on cocaine-conditioned place preference.