Research article summary (published 23 Feb 2009):

Anxiolytic effects of nicotine in a rodent test of approach-avoidance conflict.

Full Abstract

RATIONALE: Nicotine has been reported to produce both anxiolytic and/or anxiogenic effects in humans and animals. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether pretreatment with nicotine would alter anxiety in a unique runway model of approach-avoidance conflict. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Food-restricted rats were trained to run a straight alley once a day to obtain food upon goal-box entry. Beginning on trial 11, food reward was followed by a series of five foot shocks (0.3-0.4 mA, 0.5 s) in the goal box. Non-shocked control rats continued to run for food only. The resulting association of the goal box with both a positive (food) and negative (foot shock) stimulus produced an approach-avoidance conflict (subjects exhibited "retreat behaviors" in which they would approach the goal box, stop, and then retreat back towards the start box). Once retreats were established, their sensitivity to nicotine pretreatment (0.0, 0.03, 0.045, 0.06, or 0.075 mg/kg, i.v.) was compared to saline. In subsequent tests, the effects of nicotine (0.06 or 0.03 mg/kg) were examined on spontaneous activity (locomotion) and center-square entries in an open field (anxiety). RESULTS: Doses of 0.06 and 0.075 mg/kg, but not lower doses of nicotine, reduced the number of runway retreats, and 0.06 mg/kg nicotine increased the number of open-field center entries relative to saline. No effects on locomotion were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine reduced approach-avoidance conflict and increased the rats' willingness to enter the center of an open field, suggesting that the drug can produce anxiolytic properties and that such effects may serve as an important factor in the persistence of smoking behavior.

Author information

Author/s: Cohen, Ami (A); Young, Robert W (RW); Velazquez, Miguel A (MA); Groysman, Mariya (M); Noorbehesht, Kavon (K); Ben-Shahar, Osnat M (OM); Ettenberg, Aaron (A);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA.

Grants: DA05041 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychopharmacology (Psychopharmacology (Berl)), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 204 (issue 3) : pp 541-9

Dates: Created 2009/05/14; Completed 2009/08/05;

PMID: 19241061, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 8/21/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Animals Anti-Anxiety Agents Conditioning, Operant - drug effects Conflict (Psychology) Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Electroshock Food Food Deprivation Injections, Intravenous

Male Motivation Motor Activity - drug effects Nicotine - pharmacology Nicotinic Agonists - pharmacology Psychomotor Performance - drug effects Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Self Administration

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Anti-Anxiety Agents (0) ; Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Nicotine (54-11-5)

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