Nicotine increases alcohol self-administration in male rats via a μ-opioid mechanism within the mesolimbic pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Alcohol and nicotine use disorders are commonly comorbid. Both alcohol and nicotine can activate opioid systems in reward-related brain regions, leading to adaptive changes in opioid signalling upon chronic exposure. The potential role of these adaptations for comorbidity is presently unknown. Here, we examined the contribution of μ and κ-opioid receptors to nicotine-induced escalation of alcohol self-administration in rats.

Experimental approach

Chronic nicotine was tested on alcohol self-administration and motivation to obtain alcohol. We then tested the effect of the κ antagonist CERC-501 and the preferential μ receptor antagonist naltrexone on basal and nicotine-escalated alcohol self-administration. To probe μ or κ receptor adaptations, receptor b

SUBMITTER: Domi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7484560 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature