Impulsive choice and impulsive action predict vulnerability to distinct stages of nicotine seeking in rats.
BACKGROUND
Although heavy smoking has been associated with impulsivity in humans, it is not clear whether poor impulse control represents a risk factor in the etiology of nicotine dependence.


METHODS
To address this issue, rats were selected on the basis of individual differences in impulsivity in the delayed reward task (impulsive choice) and the 5-choice serial reaction time task (impulsive action). Subsequently, rats were subjected to a nicotine self-administration (SA) paradigm tailored to measure the motivational properties of nicotine and nicotine-associated stimuli. In separate groups, differences in electrically evoked dopamine release in slice preparations obtained from several mesolimbic brain regions were determined.


RESULTS
Impulsive action was associated with an enhanced motivation to initiate and maintain nicotine SA. In contrast, impulsive choice predicted a diminished ability to inhibit nicotine seeking during abstinence and an enhanced vulnerability to relapse upon re-exposure to nicotine cues. Impulsive action was associated with reduced dopamine release in the accumbens core and impulsive choice with reduced dopamine release in accumbens core, shell, and medial prefrontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong association between sub-dimensions of impulsivity and nicotine SA implies that interventions aimed to improve impulse control might help to reduce susceptibility to nicotine dependence and/or lead to successful smoking cessation.
Diergaarde
Leontien
L
Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.diergaarde@vumc.nl
Pattij
Tommy
T
Poortvliet
Ingmar
I
Hogenboom
François
F
de Vries
Wendy
W
Schoffelmeer
Anton N M
AN
De Vries
Taco J
TJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012201:Reward; D012646:Self Administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*
D009538:Nicotine