A common genetic predisposition to stress sensitivity and stress-induced nicotine craving.
BACKGROUND
Clinical studies have shown that stress is one of the main causes for relapse in abstinent smokers. In this article, we have asked whether animals with a genetic predisposition to high or low stress responsivity differ in behaviors relevant to nicotine addiction, in particular stress-induced reinstatement of drug addiction.


METHODS
First, we selected animals with high, low, and average stress sensitivity from the F2 generation from an intercross of high (C57BL/6J) and low (C3H/J) emotional mouse strains. Next, these animals were trained to self-administer nicotine through a chronic intravenous catheter. After extinction of the operant behavior replacing nicotine with saline, mice were stressed with a foot shock and the reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviors was evaluated.


RESULTS
Mice with different stress reactivity showed no difference in the acquisition, extinction, or level of nicotine self-administration. We found an immediate reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in high stress reactive mice, in contrast to low or average stress reactive animals, which showed no significantly increased activity at the active (nicotine-associated) sensor.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a genetic predisposition to high stress sensitivity contributes to relapse vulnerability but not to the initiation or maintenance of nicotine consumption.
Bilkei-Gorzo
Andras
A
Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. abilkei@uni-bonn.de
Rácz
Ildikó
I
Michel
Kerstin
K
Darvas
Martin
M
Maldonado
Raphael
R
Zimmer
Andreas
A
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D013550:Swimming; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*
D009538:Nicotine