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Nicotine self-administration in animals and humans: similarities and differences
1Nicotine Research Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA. jerose@acpub.duke.edu
Psychopharmacology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Nicotine self-administration in humans and animals shows an inverted-U dose-response curve, with intermediate doses maximizing behavior. Nicotine supplementation suppresses self-administration, while antagonists have complex effects, highlighting dopamine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Addiction Science
Background:
- Nicotine self-administration is a key model for understanding tobacco dependence.
- Animal models (intravenous self-administration) and human studies (cigarette smoking) offer complementary insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize findings on nicotine self-administration across species.
- To examine the influence of nicotine dose, receptor modulation, and neurochemical systems, particularly dopamine, on reinforcement.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal intravenous nicotine self-administration studies.
- Analysis of human cigarette smoking behavior studies.
- Examination of neurochemical data, focusing on the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Main Results:
- Both species exhibit an inverted-U relationship between nicotine dose and self-administration, with peak responding at intermediate doses.
- Non-contingent nicotine administration reduces self-administration in both animals and humans.
- Nicotine antagonists decrease responding in animals but can transiently increase smoking in humans, suggesting compensatory mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Nicotine reinforcement is dose-dependent and modulated by nicotinic receptor activity.
- The mesolimbic dopamine system plays a role in nicotine reward, though its precise function differs between species.
- Integrating animal models and human studies is crucial for understanding nicotine dependence and developing cessation treatments.