RATIONALE: Partial agonists and antagonists of addictive drugs have been useful in the treatment of dependence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether nicotine analogs with partial agonist or antagonist properties at alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) inhibit self-administration of nicotine in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer nicotine (unit dose 0.017 mg/kg) intravenously contingent upon the completion of five lever presses. Once stable responding was established, rats were administered test agents, either as a subcutaneous injection before the daily session or co-infused with nicotine. RESULTS: The number of nicotine injections taken per session was reduced to approximately 50% of baseline after either pre-treatment with the broad spectrum nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine, or by substituting saline for nicotine (extinction). 4'-Trans-methyl-nicotine, a strong partial agonist, inhibited nicotine self-administration and substituted for nicotine to support self-administration. Partial agonists, prepared by substitution at the 1'-N-position with either ethyl or cyclopropylmethyl moieties, potently inhibited self-administration. Antagonists formed by 5'-methyl substitution also inhibited self-administration, with the 5'-trans-methyl enantiomer about ten times more potent than the 5'-cis-methyl enantiomer. In contrast, antagonists formed by aryl substitution at the 5 position of the pyridyl ring of nicotine did not inhibit self-administration. Intravenous co-infusions had similar effects to the pre-injections. In most instances, doses of the analogs that reduced nicotine self-administration had no effect on food intake when measured using a similar FR5 protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine analogs with alpha4beta2 nAChR partial agonist and antagonist efficacies can inhibit self-administration and may be considered as prototypical smoking-cessation agents.
RATIONALE: Partial agonists and antagonists of addictive drugs have been useful in the treatment of dependence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether nicotine analogs with partial agonist or antagonist properties at alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) inhibit self-administration of nicotine in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer nicotine (unit dose 0.017 mg/kg) intravenously contingent upon the completion of five lever presses. Once stable responding was established, rats were administered test agents, either as a subcutaneous injection before the daily session or co-infused with nicotine. RESULTS: The number of nicotine injections taken per session was reduced to approximately 50% of baseline after either pre-treatment with the broad spectrum nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine, or by substituting saline for nicotine (extinction). 4'-Trans-methyl-nicotine, a strong partial agonist, inhibited nicotine self-administration and substituted for nicotine to support self-administration. Partial agonists, prepared by substitution at the 1'-N-position with either ethyl or cyclopropylmethyl moieties, potently inhibited self-administration. Antagonists formed by 5'-methyl substitution also inhibited self-administration, with the 5'-trans-methyl enantiomer about ten times more potent than the 5'-cis-methyl enantiomer. In contrast, antagonists formed by aryl substitution at the 5 position of the pyridyl ring of nicotine did not inhibit self-administration. Intravenous co-infusions had similar effects to the pre-injections. In most instances, doses of the analogs that reduced nicotine self-administration had no effect on food intake when measured using a similar FR5 protocol. CONCLUSIONS:Nicotine analogs with alpha4beta2 nAChR partial agonist and antagonist efficacies can inhibit self-administration and may be considered as prototypical smoking-cessation agents.
Authors: Janice W Smith; Adrian Mogg; Elisiana Tafi; Eleanor Peacey; Ian A Pullar; Philip Szekeres; Mark Tricklebank Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2006-11-18 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Caryn Lerman; Mark G LeSage; Kenneth A Perkins; Stephanie S O'Malley; Steven J Siegel; Neal L Benowitz; William A Corrigall Journal: Nat Rev Drug Discov Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 84.694
Authors: A J Grottick; G Trube; W A Corrigall; J Huwyler; P Malherbe; R Wyler; G A Higgins Journal: J Pharmacol Exp Ther Date: 2000-09 Impact factor: 4.030