title: Effects of nicotine on the acoustic startle reflex amplitude in rats.
abstract: The acoustic startle reflex was used to measure changes in sensorimotor reactivity in response to nicotine administration and cessation. Male rats received saline, 6 mg/kg/day or 12 mg/kg/day nicotine delivered subcutaneously by osmotic minipumps. The pumps delivered their contents during a 10-day period of implantation, after which time they were explanted. Animals were tested for startle reflex amplitudes using two levels of white noise bursts prior to pump implantation, on days 1 and 7 of nicotine or saline administration, and on several days following drug cessation. Nicotine produced a dose-dependent increase in startle amplitude during the period of administration that decreased during cessation. Results are interpreted in terms of nicotine's actions to enhance attentional processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Grunberg
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine