title: Periadolescent nicotine exposure causes heterologous sensitization to cocaine reinforcement.
abstract: There is increasing concern that abuse of tobacco during periadolescence increases the potential for later abuse of other drugs. To test this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats received once-daily injections of either water or 0.4 mg/kg nicotine from postnatal day 35 through 44. Beginning on postnatal day 80, animals were tested in a 12-day cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Prior nicotine treatment enhanced the dose-response to cocaine. CPP training with 3.0 mg/kg i.p. cocaine increased time in drug-paired chambers by 50% in control rats and 94% in nicotine-exposed animals. Thus, periadolescent nicotine exposure produced long-term sensitization to an indirect-acting dopamine agonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834 USA. mcmillenb@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: McMillen
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Helen L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soderstrom
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D003042:Cocaine