Aliabadi A A, Sahraei H, Sadooghi M, Ghoshooni H, Alaf-Javadi M, Salimi S H et al . Ascorbic acid antagonizes nicotine-induced place preference and behavioral sensitization in female mice. Physiol Pharmacol 2006; 10 (1) :49-56
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Abstract: (13350 Views)
Introduction: The influence of ascorbic acid on the nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and
behavioral sensitization was investigated in the present study.
Methods: In a pilot study, place conditioning and locomotor activity were investigated after nicotine (0.25,
0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/kg) or ascorbic acid (1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) administration. Different doses of
ascorbic acid in conditioning days or on the test days were used. Behavioral sensitization was induced in animals
by daily intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (0.25 mg/kg) for seven cosecutive days followed by one day
interval. On 9th day, locomotor activity was induced by ineffective dose of nicotine (0.1 mg/kg). Ascorbic acid was
injected 20 min before each injection of nicotine (acquisition of sensitization) or acutely 20 min before a challenge
nicotine injection (expression of sensitization).
Results: The results showed that intraperitoneal nicotine (1 mg/kg) administration can induce place preference
whereas acute administration of the drug induces catalepsy. Administration of ascorbic acid did not induce place
preference nor place aversion and also did not change the locomotor activity. Locomotor sensitization in mice
was produced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (0.25 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. On the 9th day of
experiments, activity of the mice was recorded after challenge with nicotine (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.). The senisitization
was better achived when the ineffective dose of nicotine (0.1 mg/kg) was applied. Administration with ascorbic
acid reduced both the acquisition and expression of nicotine-induced CPP. It was shown that ascorbic acid
attenuated the acquisition of nicotine sensitization in a dose-independent manner but the expression of nicotineinduced
sensitization was not affected by ascorbic acid.
Conclusion: We conclude that ascorbic acid may interfere with nicotine-induced place preference and
behavioral sensitization.