Nicotine Consumption and Motivation-Related Responses in High and Low Alcohol Preferring Mice

Abstract

Alcohol and tobacco use behaviors are highly correlated within individuals and studies have shown that these behaviors are genetically influenced. Also, initial sensitivity to the rewarding and aversive effects of these drugs are strong predictors of subsequent use. The purpose of this study is to assess the genetic relationship between alcohol and nicotine consumption, reward, and aversion using mice selectively-bred for high (HAP) or low alcohol preference (LAP). HAP mice have been previously shown to less sensitive to both the rewarding and aversive effects of alcohol, as measured by conditioned place preference (CPP) and conditioned taste aversion (CTA), compared to LAP mice. Here, free-choice nicotine oral consumption, nicotine-induced CPP, and nicotine-induced CTA were assessed in HAP and LAP mice. In addition, nicotine-induced changes in nucleus accumbens and striatum levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine were assessed as potential neural correlates of any behavioral differences between HAP and LAP mice. HAP mice showed greater nicotine intake and intake ratio, and lower sensitivity to nicotine-induced CTA, compared to LAP mice. There were no line differences in nicotine-induced CPP or in any of the neurochemicals measured. These results suggest that the genetic factors that permit higher alcohol and nicotine consumption also confer lower sensitivity to the aversive effects of these drugs