Anxiety status affects nicotine- and baclofen-induced locomotor activity, anxiety, and single-trial conditioned place preference in male adolescent rats.
Adolescents have an increased vulnerability to nicotine and anxiety may play a role in the development of nicotine abuse. One possible treatment for anxiety disorders and substance abuse is the GABAB agonist, baclofen. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of anxiety-like behavior on single-trial nicotine conditioned place preference in adolescent rats, and to assess the action of baclofen. Baclofen was shown to have effects on locomotor and anxiety-like behavior in rats divided into high-anxiety and low-anxiety groups. Baclofen decreased locomotor behavior in high-anxiety rats. Baclofen alone failed to produce differences in anxiety-like behavior, but nicotine and baclofen + nicotine administration were anxiolytic. High- and low-anxiety groups also showed differences in single-trial nicotine-induced place preference. Only high-anxiety rats formed place preference to nicotine, while rats in the low-anxiety group formed no conditioned place preference. These results suggest that among adolescents, high-anxiety individuals are more likely to show preference for nicotine than low-anxiety individuals.
Department of Psychology, George Mason University, MSN 3F5, Fairfax, VA, 22030.
Adriana M
AM
Falco
Craig G
CG
McDonald
Robert F
RF
Smith
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D009538:Nicotine; D001418:Baclofen
GABAB receptor; adolescence; anxiety; baclofen; conditioned place preference; nicotine; rat