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Published on: October 29, 2012
5-Hydroxytryptophan attenuates somatic signs of nicotine withdrawal
Yu Ohmura1, Emily M Jutkiewicz, Mitsuhiro Yoshioka
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0632, USA.
Abstract:
Abrupt nicotine cessation after chronic use disrupts monoaminergic systems and causes withdrawal signs/symptoms. In this study, the precursor of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) relieved nicotine withdrawal signs. (-)-Nicotine bitartrate or equimolar sodium tartrate was infused into each rat via a s.c. osmotic minipump for 7 days. Somatic abstinence signs (teeth-chattering/chews and shakes, etc.) were counted one day after pump removal. Somatic signs were attenuated by the i.p. injection of 5-HTP, but not by NSD-1015, a centrally-acting L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, indicating that 5-HTP mitigates somatic signs mainly through its conversion to 5-HT.
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