Nicotine Self-Administration With Tobacco Flavor Additives in Male Rats.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Nicotine can robustly increase responding for conditioned reinforcers (CRs), stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties based on association with primary reinforcers. Menthol and licorice are tobacco flavoring agents also found in sweet foods (eg, candy and ice cream), making them putative CRs before they are consumed in tobacco. We sought to determine if intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of nicotine was enhanced by the inclusion of oral tobacco flavor CRs.

Methods

Menthol (160 or 320 µM) or licorice root extract (0.1% or 1%) were established as CRs (paired with 20% sucrose) or "neutral" stimuli (paired with water) in separate groups. During subsequent IVSA tests, nicotine was delivered in conjunction with oral presentations of the CR.

Results

In ex

SUBMITTER: Palmatier MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7297109 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature