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Nicotine Attenuates Relapse to Methamphetamine‐Seeking Behavior (Craving) in Rats
Author(s) -
HIRANITA TAKATO,
ANGGADIREDJA KUSNANDAR,
FUJISAKI CHIE,
WATANABE SHIGENORI,
YAMAMOTO TSUNEYUKI
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1316.062
Subject(s) - mecamylamine , methamphetamine , nicotine , nicotinic agonist , craving , cholinergic , pharmacology , psychology , antagonist , nicotinic antagonist , self administration , anesthesia , addiction , medicine , neuroscience , receptor
A bstract : This study clarifies the modulating action of the nicotinic cholinergic system on reinstatement of methamphetamine (MAP)‐seeking behavior (craving) using an intravenous, self‐administration paradigm in rats. After self‐administration of MAP for 10 days, replacing MAP with saline solution (MAP withdrawal) gradually decreased lever‐pressing responses. On the sixth day of MAP withdrawal, MAP (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.)‐priming injection significantly increased lever‐pressing responses (reinstatement of MAP‐seeking behavior). This MAP‐seeking behavior was attenuated by repeated nicotine administration for 5 days during MAP withdrawal, and this attenuating effect was antagonized by the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. These results suggest that the appearance of MAP‐seeking behavior may be due to inactivation of the nicotinic cholinergic neuron. Furthermore, it is suggested that nicotinic activating agents may be useful in preventing relapse to drug abuse.