Noribogaine reduces nicotine self-administration in rats.

Abstract

Noribogaine, a polypharmacological drug with activities at opioid receptors, ionotropic nicotinic receptors, and serotonin reuptake transporters, has been investigated for treatment of substance abuse-related disorders. Smoking cessation has major benefits for both individuals and society, therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of noribogaine for use as a treatment for nicotine dependence. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer nicotine intravenous. After initial food pellet training, followed by 26 sessions of nicotine self-administration training, the rats were administered noribogaine (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg orally), noribogaine vehicle, varenicline or saline using a within-subject design with a Latin square test schedule. Noribogaine dose-dependently decreased nicotine self-administration by up to 64% of saline-treated rats' levels and was equi-effective to 1.7 mg/kg intraperitoneal varenicline. Noribogaine was less efficient at reducing food pellets self-administration than at nicotine self-administration, inhibiting the nondrug reinforcing effects of palatable pellets by 23% at the highest dose. These results suggest that noribogaine dose-dependently attenuates drug-taking behavior for nicotine, attenuates the reinforcing effects of nicotine and is comparable to varenicline power in that regard. The findings from the present study hold promise for a new therapy to aid smoking cessation.

• Authors: Qing Chang, Taleen Hanania, Deborah C Mash, Emeline L Maillet
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 29 Issue 6 Pg. 704-11 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1461-7285 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25995321 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2015.

Chemical References

• Receptors, Nicotinic
• Ibogaine
• Nicotine
• noribogaine
• Varenicline

Topics

• Animals
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Ibogaine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Male
• Nicotine (administration & dosage)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Nicotinic (metabolism)
• Self Administration (methods)
• Smoking Cessation (methods)
• Tobacco Use Disorder (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Varenicline (pharmacology)