Exposure to smoke from high- but not low-nicotine cigarettes leads to signs of dependence in male rats and potentiates the effects of nicotine in female rats.

ABSTRACT: Nicotine is only mildly rewarding, but after becoming dependent, it is difficult to quit smoking. The goal of these studies was to determine if low-nicotine cigarettes are less likely to cause dependence and enhance the reinforcing effects of nicotine than regular high-nicotine cigarettes. Male and female rats were exposed to tobacco smoke with a low or high nicotine level for 35 days. It was investigated if smoke exposure affects the development of dependence, anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, and nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization. Smoke exposure did not affect locomotor activity in a small open field or sucrose preference. Mecamylamine precipitated somatic withdrawal signs in male rats exposed to smoke with a high level of nicotine, but not in male rats exposed to smoke with

SUBMITTER: Chellian R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7415730 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature