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Changing environmental cues reduces tolerance to nicotine-induced anorexia
A R Caggiula1, L H Epstein, R Stiller
1Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Tolerance to nicotine's appetite-suppressing effects in rats depends on associated cues. Changing the timing of nicotine cues significantly reduced milk intake, indicating cue timing influences tolerance development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
Background:
- Nicotine is known to affect appetite.
- Tolerance to drug effects can be influenced by environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of temporal cues in the development of tolerance to nicotine's anorectic effects.
- To determine if changes in cue timing affect established nicotine tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Male rats were subjected to a 22-h food deprivation schedule.
- Daily injections of a low nicotine dose were administered, followed by access to sweetened milk.
- Tolerance was assessed over 10 days.
- Temporal cues associated with nicotine administration were manipulated.
Main Results:
- Nicotine initially suppressed milk intake.
- Complete tolerance to nicotine's anorectic effect developed within 10 days.
- Altering the timing of nicotine-associated cues significantly suppressed milk intake, despite a constant physical environment and drug-test interval.
Conclusions:
- Tolerance to the anorectic effects of low-dose nicotine is partially dependent on the presence and timing of associated cues.
- Temporal cues play a significant role in modulating the acquisition and expression of nicotine tolerance.