Sex differences in nicotine intake and relapse behavior in nicotine-dependent adult wistar rats.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tobacco use is highly addictive and the leading cause of premature mortality in the world. Long-access nicotine self-administration procedures in rats closely model human smoking behavior. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of sex differences in the development of dependence and relapse in adult rats.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated operant responding for both nicotine and saline and the development of dependence in adult rats of both sexes. The rats had daily access to nicotine or saline for 6 h per day, 7 days per week. Dependence was assessed by evaluating precipitated and spontaneous somatic withdrawal signs, measuring locomotor activity in the small open field test, and assessing anxiety-like behavior in the large open field

SUBMITTER: Chellian R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11464435 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature