Cigarette smoke and nicotine effects on behavior in HIV transgenic rats

HIV-related neurocognitive impairment can be worsened by cigarette smoking and be more severe in women. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of sex on behavioral function in HIV transgenic (Tg) rats that were exposed to either nicotine alone, to smoke from either nicotine-containing or nicotine-free cigarettes, or non-exposed. The animals were then assessed on the open field test for the total distance traveled and for the fraction of the total distance traveled and the total time spent in the center of the field, and the results then compared to WT rats subjected to the same exposures and testing. Higher total distances indicate greater locomotor activity and a higher center field measures imply a lower anxiety state. Total distances were overall higher for female and for Tg rats exposed to nicotine-free CS. Also, the total distance and both center field measures were overall higher for female rats in the control and nicotine-free CS-exposed groups. This was observed specifically for WT females as compared to WT males and, for the center field measures, for WT females as compared to Tg males. No genotype or sex-related differences were found for rats in the nicotine-free cigarette smoke (CS) and nicotine-containing CS exposed groups. Therefore, nicotine exposure did not impact genotype- and sex-related differences in motor responses and anxiety levels that were found in the control state. However, exposure to the non-nicotine components of CS resulted in locomotor activation in the presence of the HIV genes and was anxiogenic in WT and Tg male animals.