Premium
Characterization of the effects of bupropion on the reinforcing properties of nicotine and food in rats
Author(s) -
Bruijnzeel Adrie W.,
Markou Athina
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.10242
Subject(s) - bupropion , nicotine , self administration , pharmacology , medicine , smoking cessation , anesthesia , pathology
Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant drug that is the only nonnicotine‐based prescription medicine approved for smoking cessation by the Food and Drug Administration. The aim of the present experiments was to investigate the effects of bupropion (5–40 mg/kg) on the reinforcing properties of nicotine and food in rats. The effects of bupropion were studied under two schedules of reinforcement: a fixed ratio 5 time‐out 20‐sec (FR5 TO20 s) and a progressive ratio (PR). Rats were trained to respond for nicotine (0.01 or 0.03 mg/kg/infusion, free base) or food under the FR5 TO20 s schedule. Pretreatment with the highest dose of bupropion (40 mg/kg) resulted in a significant reduction (∼50%) of nicotine intake in rats self‐administering 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine. The same dose of bupropion also decreased (∼40%) the self‐administration of 0.01 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. Pretreatment with bupropion slightly (∼15%) reduced responding for food under the FR5 TO20 s schedule. Finally, pretreatment with bupropion did not affect the self‐administration of nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) under a PR schedule, but dose‐dependently increased responding for food under the same PR schedule. These findings indicate that a high dose of bupropion decreases the reinforcing properties of nicotine as measured under an FR schedule, while having no apparent effects on breaking points for nicotine under a PR schedule that reflects both the reinforcing properties and the motivation to obtain nicotine. Synapse 50:20–28, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.