title: Characteristics of tail-tremor induced by nicotine in rats.
abstract: To characterize the tail-tremor and locomotor hyperactivity induced by repeated nicotine administration, the effects of nicotinic, alpha-adrenergic and dopaminergic blockers were investigated in rats. Daily administration of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) induced tail-tremor from the 4th day, which became more marked in intensity by subsequent administration. Locomotor hyperactivity was also induced by nicotine, which was enhanced by daily administration. The tail-tremor and locomotor hyperactivity induced by repeated nicotine administration were inhibited by mecamylamine (0.1-1 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by hexamethonium (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.). Clonidine (0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg, i.p.) and prazosin (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced tail-tremor more markedly than hyperactivity. However, haloperidol (0.05-0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) and chlorpromazine (1-5 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced hyperactivity more markedly than tail-tremor. These results suggest that nicotine-induced tail-tremor and hyperactivity are due to an increased susceptibility of central nicotinic receptors of nicotine followed by catecholaminergic mechanisms, and that tail-tremor may be more associated with the noradrenergic system than the dopaminergic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suemaru
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gomita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013623:Tail / Q000187:drug effects; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D018738:Hexamethonium; D010095:Oxotremorine; D008464:Mecamylamine; D009538:Nicotine; D006220:Haloperidol