TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurochemical alterations produced by daily nicotine exposure in periadolescent vs. adult male rats
AU - Collins, Stephanie L.
AU - Wade, Dean
AU - Ledon, Jennifer
AU - Izenwasser, Sari
PY - 2004/10/11
Y1 - 2004/10/11
N2 - Chronic treatment with nicotine differentially alters behavior in adolescent rats compared to adult rats. It is not known, however, whether the effects of nicotine on the neurochemical pathways with which it interacts differ in adolescents vs. adults. In the current study, the effects of a 7-day treatment with nicotine on nicotinic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic neurochemistry were examined in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens in periadolescent vs. adult male rats. Nicotine treatment increased dopamine transporter densities and decreased serotonin transporter densities in periadolescent rats. There was no change in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor densities or dopamine D1 or D2 receptor densities in nicotine-pretreated periadolescent rats. In adult rats pretreated with nicotine, there was an increase in nicotinic acetylcholine densities, but no change in dopamine transporter, dopamine D1 or D2 receptor, or serotonin transporter densities. Overall, these findings show that periadolescent rats have neurochemical adaptations to nicotine different from adult rats. These alterations may explain, at least in part, the differential behavioral effects of chronic nicotine in adult and adolescent male rats.
AB - Chronic treatment with nicotine differentially alters behavior in adolescent rats compared to adult rats. It is not known, however, whether the effects of nicotine on the neurochemical pathways with which it interacts differ in adolescents vs. adults. In the current study, the effects of a 7-day treatment with nicotine on nicotinic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic neurochemistry were examined in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens in periadolescent vs. adult male rats. Nicotine treatment increased dopamine transporter densities and decreased serotonin transporter densities in periadolescent rats. There was no change in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor densities or dopamine D1 or D2 receptor densities in nicotine-pretreated periadolescent rats. In adult rats pretreated with nicotine, there was an increase in nicotinic acetylcholine densities, but no change in dopamine transporter, dopamine D1 or D2 receptor, or serotonin transporter densities. Overall, these findings show that periadolescent rats have neurochemical adaptations to nicotine different from adult rats. These alterations may explain, at least in part, the differential behavioral effects of chronic nicotine in adult and adolescent male rats.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Autoradiography
KW - Dopamine
KW - Nicotine
KW - Serotonin
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.08.039
DO - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.08.039
M3 - Article
C2 - 15464092
AN - SCOPUS:4744374099
VL - 502
SP - 75
EP - 85
JO - European Journal of Pharmacology
JF - European Journal of Pharmacology
SN - 0014-2999
IS - 1-2
ER -