title: Nicotine attenuates relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior (craving) in rats.
abstract: This study clarifies the modulating action of the nicotinic cholinergic system on reinstatement of methamphetamine (MAP)-seeking behavior (craving) using an intravenous, self-administration paradigm in rats. After self-administration of MAP for 10 days, replacing MAP with saline solution (MAP withdrawal) gradually decreased lever-pressing responses. On the sixth day of MAP withdrawal, MAP (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.)-priming injection significantly increased lever-pressing responses (reinstatement of MAP-seeking behavior). This MAP-seeking behavior was attenuated by repeated nicotine administration for 5 days during MAP withdrawal, and this attenuating effect was antagonized by the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. These results suggest that the appearance of MAP-seeking behavior may be due to inactivation of the nicotinic cholinergic neuron. Furthermore, it is suggested that nicotinic activating agents may be useful in preventing relapse to drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Takato
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiranita
authors.forename: Kusnandar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anggadiredja
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tsuneyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine; D009538:Nicotine