title: Sex differences in neurotensin and substance P following nicotine self-administration in rats.
abstract: Investigator-administered nicotine alters neurotensin and substance P levels in Sprague-Dawley rats. This finding suggested a role of the dopamine-related endogenous neuropeptides in nicotine addiction. We sought to extend this observation by determining the responses of neurotensin and substance P systems (assessed using radioimmunoassay) in male and female rats following nicotine self-administration (SA). Male and female Sprague-Dawley were trained to self-administer nicotine, or receive saline infusions yoked to a nicotine-administering rat during daily sessions (1-h; 21 days). Brains were extracted 3 h after the last SA session. Nicotine SA increased tissue levels of neurotensin in the males in the anterior and posterior caudate, globus pallidus, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens core and shell, and ventral tegmental area. Nicotine SA also increased tissue levels of neurotensin in the females in the anterior caudate, globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens core and shell, but not in the posterior caudate, frontal cortex, or ventral tegmental area. There were fewer sex differences observed in the substance P systems. Nicotine SA increased tissue levels of substance P in both the males and females in the posterior caudate, globus pallidus, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens shell, and ventral tegmental area. A sex difference was observed in the nucleus accumbens core, where nicotine SA increased tissue levels of substance P in the males, yet decreased levels in the females. The regulation of neuropeptides following nicotine SA may play a role in the susceptibility to nicotine dependence in females and males. Synapse 70:336-346, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308.
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Pittenger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308.
authors.forename: Natashia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Swalve
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308.
authors.forename: Shinnyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Utah, 530 so. Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108.|Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Skaggs Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112.
authors.forename: Misty D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Utah, 530 so. Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hoonakker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308.
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pudiak
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Utah, 530 so. Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108.
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Fleckenstein
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Utah, 530 so. Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108.|Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Skaggs Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112.
authors.forename: Glen R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308.
authors.forename: Rick A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bevins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012646:Self Administration; D012737:Sex Factors; D013373:Substance P / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D013373:Substance P; D009496:Neurotensin; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: addiction; dopamine; female; limbic-related; male; neuropeptide