AIMS: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic transmission plays an important role in modulating reinforcing effects of different drugs of misuse. In particular, stimulation of GABA(B) receptors negatively influences self-administration of cocaine, heroin, nicotine, alcohol and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. The effect and specificity of the GABA(B) agonist baclofen on nicotine misuse were studied on two animal models of self-administration. METHODS: The effects of RS baclofen and the two isomers R baclofen and S baclofen were studied on the acute nicotine self-administration in drug-naïve mice. The effect of RS baclofen was also studied in rats trained to chronically self-administer nicotine under a continuous reinforcement (FR1) schedule. RESULTS: RS baclofen antagonizes nicotine intravenous self-administration at doses of 1.25-2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). Furthermore, this effect is sterospecific. R baclofen completely prevented nicotine self-administration at the dose of 0.625 mg/kg i.p., whereas S baclofen was inactive up to the dose of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. In rats trained to self-administer nicotine, pretreatment with RS baclofen at the dose of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. significantly increased the rate of responding for nicotine. This effect was similar to the effect obtained when rats were pretreated with the nicotine central receptor antagonist mecamylamine (1 mg/kg i.p.). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that baclofen is able to antagonize nicotine-rewarding effects in mice and rats and suggest its potential clinical utility for the treatment of nicotine misuse.
AIMS: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic transmission plays an important role in modulating reinforcing effects of different drugs of misuse. In particular, stimulation of GABA(B) receptors negatively influences self-administration of cocaine, heroin, nicotine, alcohol and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. The effect and specificity of the GABA(B) agonist baclofen on nicotine misuse were studied on two animal models of self-administration. METHODS: The effects of RS baclofen and the two isomers R baclofen and S baclofen were studied on the acute nicotine self-administration in drug-naïve mice. The effect of RS baclofen was also studied in rats trained to chronically self-administer nicotine under a continuous reinforcement (FR1) schedule. RESULTS: RS baclofen antagonizes nicotine intravenous self-administration at doses of 1.25-2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). Furthermore, this effect is sterospecific. R baclofen completely prevented nicotine self-administration at the dose of 0.625 mg/kg i.p., whereas S baclofen was inactive up to the dose of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. In rats trained to self-administer nicotine, pretreatment with RS baclofen at the dose of 2.5 mg/kg i.p. significantly increased the rate of responding for nicotine. This effect was similar to the effect obtained when rats were pretreated with the nicotine central receptor antagonist mecamylamine (1 mg/kg i.p.). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that baclofen is able to antagonize nicotine-rewarding effects in mice and rats and suggest its potential clinical utility for the treatment of nicotine misuse.
Authors: Joke Beuten; Jennie Z Ma; Thomas J Payne; Randolph T Dupont; Karen M Crews; Grant Somes; Nancy J Williams; Robert C Elston; Ming D Li Journal: Am J Hum Genet Date: 2005-03-09 Impact factor: 11.025