Selective antagonism at dopamine D3 receptors prevents nicotine-triggered relapse to nicotine-seeking behavior.

Drugs of abuse, including, nicotine have been shown to enhance brain reward functions in the mesocortico-limbic dopamine (DA) system in general, and the nucleus accumbens in particular. The latter occupies a prominent position in the ventral striatum and expresses a high density of DA D(3) receptors. As such, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of the selective D(3) receptor antagonist SB-277011-A on both the stable maintenance of intravenous nicotine self-administration and nicotine-triggered relapse to nicotine-seeking behavior in the rat. SB-277011-A (3-10 mg/kg i.p.) significantly reduced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior without affecting nicotine self-administration per se. These results suggest that DA D(3) receptors are involved in the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior independently of any interaction with the primary reinforcing effects of nicotine itself. These findings point toward the potential use of selective DA D(3) receptor antagonists for the pharmacotherapeutic management of relapse to drug-seeking behaviors.