Abstract
Several studies have indicated that nicotine increases responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers. We assessed the effects of subcutaneous injections of 0.3 mg/kg nicotine and two nicotinic antagonists on responding maintained by conditioned and primary reinforcers and responding during extinction in 8 Long Evans rats. Mecamylamine, a central and peripheral nicotinic antagonist, and hexamethonium, a peripheral nicotinic antagonist, were administered prior to a subset of the experimental sessions. Nicotine selectively increased responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers and mecamylamine, but not hexamethonium, attenuated this effect. These results suggest that nicotineandapos;s enhancing effect on responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers is mediated in the central nervous system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 350-358 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)