A common genetic predisposition to stress sensitivity and stress-induced nicotine craving.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Clinical studies have shown that stress is one of the main causes for relapse in abstinent smokers. In this article, we have asked whether animals with a genetic predisposition to high or low stress responsivity differ in behaviors relevant to nicotine addiction, in particular stress-induced reinstatement of drug addiction.

METHODS:

First, we selected animals with high, low, and average stress sensitivity from the F2 generation from an intercross of high (C57BL/6J) and low (C3H/J) emotional mouse strains. Next, these animals were trained to self-administer nicotine through a chronic intravenous catheter. After extinction of the operant behavior replacing nicotine with saline, mice were stressed with a foot shock and the reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviors was evaluated.

RESULTS:

Mice with different stress reactivity showed no difference in the acquisition, extinction, or level of nicotine self-administration. We found an immediate reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior in high stress reactive mice, in contrast to low or average stress reactive animals, which showed no significantly increased activity at the active (nicotine-associated) sensor.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that a genetic predisposition to high stress sensitivity contributes to relapse vulnerability but not to the initiation or maintenance of nicotine consumption.

• Authors: Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, Ildikó Rácz, Kerstin Michel, Martin Darvas, Raphael Maldonado, Andreas Zimmer
• Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 63 Issue 2 Pg. 164-71 (Jan 15 2008) ISSN: 1873-2402 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17570348 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nicotine

Topics

• Acoustic Stimulation (methods)
• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Behavior, Animal
• Conditioning, Operant (drug effects, physiology)
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Maze Learning (physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C3H
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Nicotine (administration & dosage)
• Principal Component Analysis
• Reflex, Startle (physiology, radiation effects)
• Reinforcement, Psychology
• Self Administration
• Stress, Psychological (complications, genetics)
• Swimming
• Tobacco Use Disorder (etiology, genetics, psychology)