Abstract
Rationale
Studies indicate that adolescence is a time of increased sensitivity to the rewarding effects of nicotine, and that stress is associated with an increased risk for smoking initiation in this age group. It is possible that stress leads to increased nicotine use in adolescence by augmenting its rewarding properties. Corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptors (CRF-R1) mediate physiological and behavioral stress responses. They may also mediate stress-induced potentiation of activity in multiple neural substrates implicated in nicotine reward.
Objectives
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of acute stressor exposure on single trial nicotine conditioned place preference (CPP) in adolescent male rats using a biased CPP procedure and the role of CRF-R1 in this effect.
Results
A single episode of intermittent footshock administered 24 h before the start of place conditioning dose-dependently facilitated acquisition of CPP to nicotine (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/kg). Pretreatment with CP-154,526 (20 mg/kg), a selective CRF-R1 antagonist, 30 min before footshock exposure significantly attenuated the effect of prior stress to facilitate nicotine CPP acquisition. CP-154,526 pretreatment had no effect in animals conditioned with a nicotine dose that produced CPP under non-stress conditions, suggesting a specific role for CRF-R1 following stress.
Conclusions
Taken together, the results suggest that during adolescence, nicotine reward is enhanced by recent stressor exposure in a manner that involves signaling at CRF-R1. Information from studies such as this may be used to inform efforts to prevent and treat adolescent nicotine dependence.
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This research was supported by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to R.F. Smith and a grant from the American Psychological Association to J. Brielmaier. CP-154,526 was generously donated by Pfizer. The authors certify that they have no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this article, nor do they have a financial relationship with either of the organizations that sponsored the research. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested. The authors thank Drs. Theodore Dumas and Katherine McKnight for their valuable advice.
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Brielmaier, J., McDonald, C.G. & Smith, R.F. Effects of acute stress on acquisition of nicotine conditioned place preference in adolescent rats: a role for corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptors. Psychopharmacology 219, 73–82 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2378-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2378-1