Interactive effects of ethanol and nicotine on learning in C57BL/6J mice depend on both dose and duration of treatment |
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Authors: | Danielle Gulick Thomas J Gould |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;(2) Department of Psychology, Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA |
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Abstract: | Objective and rationale Alcohol and nicotine are commonly co-abused; one possible explanation for co-abuse is that each drug ameliorates the aversive
effects of the other. Both drugs have dose-dependent effects on learning and memory. Thus, this study examined the interactive
effects of acute ethanol and acute, chronic, or withdrawal from chronic nicotine on fear conditioning in C57BL/6J mice.
Materials and methods Conditioning consisted of auditory conditioned stimulus-foot-shock unconditioned stimulus pairings. For acute studies, saline
or ethanol, then saline or nicotine was administered before training, and saline or nicotine was also administered before
testing. For chronic and withdrawal studies, saline or nicotine was administered chronically, and ethanol or saline was administered
before training.
Results Acute nicotine (0.09 mg/kg) reversed ethanol-induced deficits (1.0 and 1.5 g/kg) in contextual and cued fear conditioning,
whereas a low dose of ethanol (0.25 g/kg) reversed nicotine (6.3 mg kg−1 day−1) withdrawal-induced deficits in contextual conditioning. Tolerance developed for the effects of nicotine on ethanol-induced
deficits in conditioning and cross-tolerance between chronic nicotine and acute ethanol was seen for the enhancing effects
of ethanol on conditioning.
Conclusions The complex and sometimes polar actions of ethanol and nicotine on behavior may contribute to co-abuse of these drugs. Specifically,
smoking may initially reduce the aversive effects of ethanol, but tolerance develops for this effect. In addition, low doses
of alcohol may lessen nicotine withdrawal symptoms. |
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Keywords: | Addiction Learning Withdrawal Tolerance Acetylcholine |
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