Taste and nicotine as determinants of voluntary tobacco use by hamsters

Syrian hamsters consumed a commercial chewing tobacco in daily amounts equivalent to 2.6% of their body weights, even though food and water were always available. Daily intake increased gradually to this level over a period of 4 months. Commercial tobaccos contain a variety of flavoring agents, including sugars. Moistened, unflavored tobacco was consumed in much smaller amounts than the commercial tobacco. Addition of sucrose to the unflavored tobacco produced a concentration-dependent increase in daily consumption. Addition of nicotine to the drinking water did not affect daily fluid intake or food consumption, but produced a selective, dose-related decrease in consumption of the commercial tobacco. These results indicate interactive roles for taste and nicotine in controlling the daily, voluntary, high-level use of tobacco by hamsters.