Biomaterial Database

An oral self-administration model of nicotine preference in rats: effects of mecamylamine. 1996

S D Glick, and K E Visker, and I M Maisonneuve

Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.

A new oral model of nicotine self-administration in rats has been described. The model utilizes a two-lever operant procedure with rats having a choice between nicotine and water reinforcement. Most (16 of 20) rats exhibited reliable preferences for nicotine solutions equal to or less than 32 micrograms/ml; preferences were inversely related to the concentration of nicotine. Mecamylamine (0.25-5.0 mg/kg), a nicotinic antagonist, reduced preferences for a low nicotine concentration (4 micrograms/ml) and enhanced preferences for a high nicotine concentration (32 micrograms/ml). The relationship of nicotine concentration to nicotine preference appeared to be consistent with previous reports of nicotine self-administration using the intravenous route in rats as well as the respiratory route (i.e., smoking) in humans. The mecamylamine-induced changes in nicotine preference were consistent with its nicotinic antagonist action as well as with effects of mecamylamine reported in humans. This model should be useful in the preclinical assessment of new agents as potential therapies in smoking cessation programs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008464	Mecamylamine	A nicotinic antagonist that is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and crosses the blood-brain barrier. Mecamylamine has been used as a ganglionic blocker in treating hypertension, but, like most ganglionic blockers, is more often used now as a research tool.
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D003216	Conditioning, Operant	Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced.	Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012646	Self Administration	Administration of a drug or chemical by the individual under the direction of a physician. It includes administration clinically or experimentally, by human or animal.	Administration, Self,Administrations, Self,Self Administrations
D017207	Rats, Sprague-Dawley	A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company.	Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D018733	Nicotinic Antagonists	Drugs that bind to nicotinic cholinergic receptors (RECEPTORS, NICOTINIC) and block the actions of acetylcholine or cholinergic agonists. Nicotinic antagonists block synaptic transmission at autonomic ganglia, the skeletal neuromuscular junction, and at central nervous system nicotinic synapses.	Antagonists, Nicotinic