title: Reinforcing effect as a function of infusion speed in intravenous self-administration of nicotine in rhesus monkeys.
abstract: The influence of infusion speed on the reinforcing effect of nicotine (NIC) 30 micrograms/kg/infusion was studied in rhesus monkeys using intravenous self-administration at infusion speeds of 5.2, 1.3, and 0.3 micrograms/s under a fixed-ratio 5 schedule with a 15-min time-out after each intake. The 24-h self-administration rate was observed in 3 periods of 8 days each for each speed, separated by saline self-administration periods of 2 weeks each. As a result, when a fixed infusion speed of 5.2 micrograms/s was used throughout the 3 periods, the average rates of NIC were not significantly different each other, but when the infusion speed was changed from 5.2 to 1.3, and then to 0.3 micrograms/s, the average rates significantly decreased. The plasma level following a single-dose infusion of NIC 30 micrograms/kg positively correlated with the infusion speeds. These results indicate that the reinforcing effect of NIC is a function of the infusion speed, most likely through elevation of the peak level of NIC in the plasma.
authors.affiliation: Preclinical Research Division, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakasa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine