Tobacco addiction and the dysregulation of brain stress systems

What Increases Smokers' Stress? Degree of Nicotine Dependence and Motivation to Quit Smoking in People After Myocardial Infarction

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) represents one of the major causes of hospitalization in cardiology departments, while tobacco smoking remains a significant public health challenge in Europe. Therefore, there is a pressing need to study this phenomenon in order to undertake preventive actions and thereby reduce the number of people smoking tobacco and, consequently reducing the rate of morbidity and disease. This study aims to assess the factors that increase stress and examine the strategies for coping with stress, nicotine addiction, and the motivation to quit smoking among patients after myocardial infarction. Methods: We analyzed 100 post-MI patients using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Schneider Smoking Cessation Motivation Test, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and the Mini-COPE questionnaire. Results: A sense of helplessness emerged as the primary stress trigger (p = 0.012), with job loss, workplace issues, illness, family death, and relationship problems (p < 0.001) as key stressors. Post-MI patients showed a high degree of smoking cessation motivation, this was enhanced by limited cigarette access and social support. Patients primarily used self-distraction and behavioral disengagement (p < 0.001) as coping mechanisms. A higher degree of nicotine tolerance (rho = -0.355; p < 0.00) and increased stress frequency (rho = -0.169; p = 0.093) correlated negatively with cessation motivation. Conclusions: Post-MI patients demonstrate significant stress-related helplessness, particularly within the professional, family, and relationship domains. The prevalence of coping mechanisms centred around avoidance suggests the need for targeted psychological interventions in this population.

Mapping brain activity and neurotransmitters pre-cigarette smoking evolution: A study of male subjects

BACKGROUND

The impact of tobacco smoking on global health persists and it is essential to understand the progression of addiction and the involvement of neurotransmitters.

METHODS

This study assessed 47 participants with tobacco use disorder (TUD) categorized based on changes in Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores over 6 years: progressive TUD (pTUD), regressive TUD (rTUD), and stable TUD (sTUD). Additionally, 35 healthy controls were included. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) and correlations with neurotransmitter distributions using JuSpace.

RESULTS

Significant differences in ReHo were observed among pTUD, rTUD, sTUD, and controls. After strict Bonferroni correction, rTUD exhibited increased ReHo in the dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus compared to sTUD (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.001). Both pTUD (p < 0.001) and rTUD (p < 0.001) showed decreased ReHo in the superior temporal gyrus compared to sTUD. sTUD had increased ReHo in the supramarginal gyrus compared to all other groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, separately). The strongest association, which survived rigorous Bonferroni correction, was between the ReHo changes in rTUD compared to sTUD and neurotransmitter distribution. This includes 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (p = 0.001), gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (p < 0.001), norepinephrine transporter (p < 0.001), and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insights into how smoking behaviors correlate with alterations in brain activity and neurotransmitter function. By elucidating these neural links to tobacco use disorder progression, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of smoking's neurological impact and potentially inform more targeted therapeutic strategies.

Sex differences in nicotine intake and relapse behavior in nicotine-dependent adult wistar rats

Introduction

Tobacco use is highly addictive and the leading cause of premature mortality in the world. Long-access nicotine self-administration procedures in rats closely model human smoking behavior. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of sex differences in the development of dependence and relapse in adult rats.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated operant responding for both nicotine and saline and the development of dependence in adult rats of both sexes. The rats had daily access to nicotine or saline for 6 h per day, 7 days per week. Dependence was assessed by evaluating precipitated and spontaneous somatic withdrawal signs, measuring locomotor activity in the small open field test, and assessing anxiety-like behavior in the large open field and elevated plus maze test. The sucrose preference test was used to determine if cessation of nicotine intake leads to anhedonia. It was also investigated if a period of forced abstinence affects nicotine-seeking behavior.

Results

This study showed that nicotine intake is higher in females than in males when given daily long access to nicotine. Daily nicotine self-administration led to more precipitated and spontaneous somatic withdrawal signs compared to saline self-administration, with no sex differences observed. In addition, cessation of nicotine intake led to a similar increase in activity in both males and females in the small open field test. However, cessation of nicotine intake did not increase anxiety-like behavior or cause anhedonia in either males or females. A time course analysis revealed that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine affected nicotine intake differently in males and females, increasing intake in males and decreasing intake in females. Three weeks of forced abstinence led to an increase in nicotine and saline-seeking behavior. The rats exhibited more nicotine than saline seeking, and the females displayed more nicotine seeking than the males.

Discussion

The present findings demonstrate that females self-administer more nicotine and display more nicotine-seeking behavior than males. Furthermore, there were no sex differences in somatic withdrawal signs or activity during abstinence from nicotine. This work underscores the importance of considering sex differences across various aspects of addiction, including intake and relapse, when developing novel treatments for tobacco use disorder.

Adversities Mediate Social Determinants of Youth Tobacco Use Initiation

Background

Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence health behaviors, including tobacco use among youth. Adversities such as perceived discrimination, perceived neighborhood stress, life trauma, and financial strain are stressors that may mediate the relationship between various SDOH and youth tobacco use. This study aims to investigate whether multidimensional adversities mediate the effects of SDOH on tobacco use among youth.

Methods

Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study were used to test our hypotheses. The sample included a diverse cohort of youth aged 9-10 years old followed until they were 15-16 years old. We examined the effects of baseline parental education, household income, neighborhood income, and family structure on subsequent youth tobacco use. Structural equation models were used to test if adversities (perceived discrimination, life trauma, financial strain) operate as potential mediators.

Results

All ABCD participants were eligible for our analysis, regardless of race, ethnicity, or SDOHs (n = 11,878). The findings indicated that the effects of parental education, household income, neighborhood income, and family structure on youth tobacco use were partially mediated by adversities. Higher levels of parental education and household income were associated with lower tobacco use, and this relationship was weakened when accounting for adversities. Similarly, stable family structures and higher neighborhood income were linked to reduced tobacco use, with adversities playing a mediating role.

Conclusions

Multidimensional adversities partially mediate the relationship between SDOH at baseline and subsequent youth tobacco use. Interventions aimed at reducing youth tobacco use should address both the social determinants and multiple adversities experienced by adolescents. Policies to improve the educational and economic situations of families, enhance neighborhood environments, and support stable family structures all reduce youth tobacco use, with lower exposure to adversities explaining this effect.

Nicotine's Effects on Schizophrenia-like Symptoms in a Mice Model: Time Matters

Tobacco consumption in schizophrenia (SCHZ) patients is highly prevalent. Data support the occurrence of sequential events during comorbidity establishment, and both smoking first, SCHZ second and SCHZ first, smoking second sequences have been proposed. To investigate whether these two possibilities lead to distinct outcomes of comorbidity, we used a phencyclidine-induced SCHZ model and nicotine exposure as a surrogate of smoking. C57Bl/6 mice were submitted to a protocol that either began with 4 days of phencyclidine exposure or 4 days of nicotine exposure. This period was followed by 5 days of combined phencyclidine + nicotine exposure. Locomotor sensitization and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) were assessed due to their well-known associations with SCHZ as opposed to rearing, an unrelated behavior. Nicotine priming potentiated phencyclidine-evoked sensitization. However, nicotine exposure after SCHZ modeling did not interfere with phencyclidine's effects. In the PPI test, nicotine after SCHZ modeling worsened the phencyclidine-evoked deficiency in males. In contrast, nicotine priming had no effects. Regarding rearing, nicotine priming failed to interfere with phencyclidine-mediated inhibition. Similarly, phencyclidine priming did not modify nicotine-mediated inhibition. The present results indicate that the sequence, either SCHZ-first or nicotine-first, differentially impacts comorbidity outcomes, a finding that is relevant for the identification of mechanisms of nicotine interference in the neurobiology of SCHZ.

Prevalence of anxiety and depression and their associated risk factors throughout pregnancy and postpartum: a prospective cross-sectional descriptive multicentred study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their associated risk factors throughout the pregnancy and postpartum process using a new screening for the early detection of mental health problems.

DESIGN

A prospective cross-sectional descriptive multicentred study. Participants were consecutively enrolled at ≥ 12 weeks' gestation and followed at three different time points: at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy, at 29-30 weeks of pregnancy, and 4-6 weeks postpartum. All women completed a mental screening at week 12-14 of pregnancy consisting of two questions from the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) and the two Whooley questions. If this screening was positive, the woman completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

SETTING

Seven primary care centres coordinated by a Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department in the city of Terrassa (Barcelona) in northern Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

Pregnant women (N = 335, age 18-45 years), in their first trimester of pregnancy, and receiving prenatal care in the public health system between July 2018 and July 2020.

FINDINGS

The most relevant factors associated with positive screening for antenatal depression or anxiety during pregnancy, that appear after the first trimester of pregnancy, are systematically repeated throughout the pregnancy, and are maintained in the postpartum period were: a history of previous depression, previous anxiety, abuse, and marital problems. In weeks 12-14 early risk factors for positive depression and anxiety screening and positive EPDS were: age, smoking, educational level, employment status, previous psychological/psychiatric history and treatment, suicide in the family environment, voluntary termination of pregnancy and current planned pregnancy, living with a partner and partner's income. In weeks 29-30 risk factors were: being a skilled worker, a history of previous depression or anxiety, and marital problems. In weeks 4-6 postpartum, risk factors were: age, a history of previous depression or anxiety or psychological/psychiatric treatment, type of treatment, having been mistreated, and marital problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Early screening for anxiety and depression in pregnancy may enable the creation of more effective healthcare pathways, by acting long before mental health problems in pregnant women worsen or by preventing their onset. Assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms before and after childbirth and emotional support needs to be incorporated into routine practice.

Interrelated involvement of the endocannabinoid/endovanilloid (TRPV1) systems and epigenetic processes in anxiety- and working memory impairment-related behavioural effects of nicotine as a stressor

The addictive use of nicotine contained in tobacco is associated with stressor-like emotional and cognitive effects such as anxiety and working memory impairment, and the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms such as histone acetylation has recently been reported. Although the precise nature of behavioural plasticity remains unclear, both anxiogenic- and working memory impairment-like effects were observed in the present experimental model of mice treated with repeated subcutaneous nicotine and/or immobilization stress, and these effects were commonly attenuated by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors that induce histone acetylation. Such HDAC inhibitor-induced resilience was mimicked by ligands for the endocannabinoid (ECB) system, a neurotransmitter system that is closely associated with nicotine-induced addiction-related behaviours: the anxiogenic-like effects were mitigated by the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) agonist arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA), whereas the working memory impairment-like effects were mitigated by the CB1 antagonist SR 141716A. Moreover, the effects of the HDAC inhibitors were also mimicked by ligands for the endovanilloid (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 [TRPV1]) system, a system that shares common characteristics with the ECB system: the anxiogenic-like effects were mitigated by the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine, whereas the working memory impairment-like effects were mitigated by the TRPV1 agonist olvanil. Notably, the HDAC inhibitor-induced anxiolytic-like effects were attenuated by SR 141716A, which were further counteracted by capsazepine, whereas the working memory improvement-like effects were attenuated by capsazepine, which were further counteracted by SR 141716A. These results suggest the contribution of interrelated control of the ECB/TRPV1 systems and epigenetic processes such as histone acetylation to novel therapeutic approaches.

Mifepristone decreases nicotine intake in dependent and non-dependent adult rats

BACKGROUND

Addiction to tobacco and nicotine products has adverse health effects and afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatments to reduce tobacco and nicotine use. Glucocorticoid receptor blockade shows promise as a novel treatment for drug abuse and stress-related disorders.

AIM

These studies aim to investigate whether glucocorticoid receptor blockade with mifepristone diminishes the reinforcing properties of nicotine in rats with intermittent or daily long access to nicotine.

METHODS

The rats self-administered 0.06 mg/kg/inf of nicotine for 6 h per day, with either intermittent or daily access for 4 weeks before treatment with mifepristone. Daily nicotine self-administration models regular smoking, while intermittent nicotine self-administration models occasional smoking. To determine whether the rats were dependent, they were treated with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine, and somatic signs were recorded.

RESULTS

The rats with intermittent access to nicotine had a higher level of nicotine intake per session than those with daily access but only the rats with daily access to nicotine showed signs of physical dependence. Furthermore, mecamylamine increased nicotine intake during the first hour of access in rats with daily access but not in those with intermittent access. Mifepristone decreased total nicotine intake in rats with intermittent and daily access to nicotine. Moreover, mifepristone decreased the distance traveled and rearing in the open field test and operant responding for food pellets.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that mifepristone decreases nicotine intake but this effect may be partially attributed to the sedative effects of mifepristone.

Neurobiology of Stress-Induced Nicotine Relapse

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Although there are some FAD-approved medicines for controlling smoking, the relapse rate remains very high. Among the factors that could induce nicotine relapse, stress might be the most important one. In the last decades, preclinical studies have generated many new findings that lead to a better understanding of stress-induced relapse of nicotine-seeking. Several molecules such as α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, α2-adrenergic receptors, cannabinoid receptor 1, trace amine-associated receptor 1, and neuropeptide systems (corticotropin-releasing factor and its receptors, dynorphine and kappa opioid receptor) have been linked to stress-induced nicotine relapse. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the neurobiology, treatment targets, and potential therapeutics of stress-induced nicotine relapse. We also discuss some factors that may influence stress-induced nicotine relapse and that should be considered in future studies. In the final section, a perspective on some research directions is provided. Further investigation on the neurobiology of stress-induced nicotine relapse will shed light on the development of new medicines for controlling smoking and will help us understand the interactions between the stress and reward systems in the brain.

Withdrawal from repeated nicotine vapor exposure increases somatic signs of physical dependence, anxiety-like behavior, and brain reward thresholds in adult male rats

Nicotine vapor consumption via electronic nicotine delivery systems has increased over the last decade. While prior work has shed light on the health effects of nicotine vapor inhalation, its unique effects on the brain and behavior have not been thoroughly explored. In this study we assessed markers of withdrawal following 14 days of nicotine vapor exposure. For Experiment 1, 21 adult male rats were exposed to ambient air or 6, 12, or 24 mg/mL nicotine vapor for 14 consecutive days. Following exposure on day 14, rats were injected with the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine (3.0 mg/mL) and assessed for somatic withdrawal signs and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. For Experiment 2, 12 adult male rats were tested for intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) immediately following exposure to vehicle vapor (50%/50%, vegetable glycerin/propylene glycol) or 24 mg/mL nicotine vapor, for 14 consecutive days. ICSS behavior was assessed for an additional 14 days, following cessation of repeated vapor exposure. Results reveal that rats with repeated nicotine vapor exposure display an increase in behavioral indicators of withdrawal following injection of mecamylamine (precipitated withdrawal). Additionally, increases in ICSS stimulation thresholds, indicative of reduced brain reward sensitivity, persist following cessation of repeated nicotine vapor exposure (spontaneous withdrawal). These data suggest that repeated e-cigarette use leads to nicotine dependence and withdrawal that affects behavior and brain reward function. Further characterization of the health effects of nicotine vapor is necessary to improve treatment strategies for nicotine use disorder and public health policies related to novel nicotine delivery systems.

The many enigmas of nicotine

This review discusses the diverse effects of nicotine on the various nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the central and peripheral nervous system and how those effects may promote the usage and addiction to tobacco products.

[Smoking and smoking cessation among migrants in France: A qualitative study]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to identify factors related to smoking and smoking cessation as well as preferences for cessation methods reported by migrants in France.

METHODS

Qualitative study using semi-directive interviews with migrants in the Parisian area thematically analyzed using an inductive approach.

RESULTS

Sixteen interviews conducted. The stress and isolation induced by migration favor the increase of tobacco consumption. These two factors, as well as the lack of information on the resources available for quitting smoking, were identified as obstacles to cessation. The main motivations for quitting are the identified or experienced effects of smoking on their health and pressure from family members, especially children. Quitting is essentially a personal strategy centered on the true will to quit. The most popular method identified by the participants as the most effective in helping them to quit, is follow-up or therapy by a health professional combining listening and psychological support.

DISCUSSION

For migrants, smoking is a resource to combat stress that increases during the migration process and upon arrival in the host country and presents a psychosocial dimension for the most isolated individuals. Smoking cessation must be accompanied and must take into account the specificities of this population as well as the expressed need for psychosocial support, as suggested by our results, to be most effective.

Dopamine D1-like receptor activation decreases nicotine intake in rats with short or long access to nicotine

The use of nicotine and tobacco products is highly addictive. The dopaminergic system plays a key role in the initiation and maintenance of nicotine intake. Dopamine D1-like receptor blockade diminishes nicotine intake in rats with daily short (1 h) access to nicotine, but little is known about the effects of dopamine receptor antagonists or agonists on nicotine intake in rats with intermittent long (23 h) access. Because of the extended access conditions and high nicotine intake, the intermittent long access procedure might model smoking and vaping better than short access models. We investigated the effects of the dopamine D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 and the D1-like receptor agonist A77636 on nicotine intake in male rats with intermittent short or long access to nicotine. The rats self-administered nicotine for 5 days (1 h/day) and were then given 15 intermittent short (1 h/day) or long (23 h/day) access sessions (3 sessions/week, 0.06 mg/kg/inf). The D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 decreased nicotine intake to a similar degree in rats with short or long access to nicotine. The D1-like receptor agonist A77636 induced a greater decrease in nicotine intake in the rats with long access to nicotine than in rats with short access. Treatment with A77636 induced a prolonged decrease in nicotine intake that lasted throughout the dark and light phase in the long access rats. These findings indicate that blockade and stimulation of D1-like receptors decrease nicotine intake in an intermittent long access animal model that closely models human smoking and vaping.

Epigallocatechin Gallate Ameliorates Nicotine Withdrawal Conditions-Induced Somatic and Affective Behavior Changes in Mice and Its Molecular Mechanism

In nicotine withdrawal (NW) conditions, molecular changes, such as increasing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the amygdala, and melanocortin signaling in the hypothalamus, can occur in the brain, leading to increased feeding behavior and body weight as somatic changes as well as high anxiety-like behavior as an affective changes. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the largest component in green tea, on CRF, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and melanocortin four receptor gene expression in the brain under NW conditions. The 24 Balb/c male mice used were randomly divided into four groups. The doses used included normal saline 1.0 mL/kg as a control group, and nicotine 3.35 mg/kg that was administered subcutaneously three times a day. After NW conditions, EGCG 50 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally two times a day. Behavior evaluation was performed to measure somatic and affective changes, and the animal was sacrificed for molecular analysis. The results showed that NW conditions significantly increased food intake, body weight, and anxiety-like behavior compared with the normal group. Meanwhile, EGCG significantly decreased food intake, body weight, and anxiety-like behavior compared with NW conditions in mice without EGCG. The polymerase chain reaction results also showed that EGCG decreased the CRF mRNA expression in the amygdala and increased the POMC. This indicated that EGCG improved somatic and affective behavior in NW conditions by decreasing CRF mRNA expression in the amygdala and increasing POMC mRNA expression in the hypothalamus.

Development of Dependence in Smokers and Rodents With Voluntary Nicotine Intake: Similarities and Differences

INTRODUCTION

Smoking and vaping throughout adolescence and early adulthood lead to nicotine dependence. Nicotine withdrawal is associated with somatic and affective withdrawal symptoms that contribute to smoking and relapse. Affective nicotine withdrawal symptoms in humans include craving for cigarettes, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and cognitive deficits.

METHODS

Herein, we review clinical studies that investigated nicotine dependence in people who smoke or vape. We also discuss studies that investigated the development of dependence in animals with oral nicotine intake, nicotine aerosol self-administration, and intravenous nicotine self-administration.

RESULTS

Clinical studies report that adolescents who smoke daily develop nicotine dependence before those who smoke infrequently, but ultimately all smokers become dependent in adulthood. Preclinical studies indicate that rats that self-administer nicotine also become dependent. Rats that self-administer nicotine display somatic withdrawal signs and affective withdrawal signs, including increased anxiety and depressive-like behavior, cognitive deficits, and allodynia. Most nicotine withdrawal signs were observed in rodents with daily (7 days/week) or intermittent long access (23-hour) to nicotine. Clinical smoking studies report symptoms of nicotine dependence in adolescents of both sexes, but virtually all preclinical nicotine self-administration studies have been done with adult male rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of sex and age in the development of dependence in nicotine self-administration studies remains under-investigated. However, the role of sex and age in nicotine withdrawal has been thoroughly evaluated in studies in which nicotine was administered noncontingently. We discuss the need for volitional nicotine self-administration studies that explore the gradual development of dependence during adolescence and adulthood in rodents of both sexes.

IMPLICATIONS

The reviewed clinical studies investigated the development of nicotine dependence in male and female adolescent and young adult smokers and vapers. These studies indicate that most adolescent smokers and vapers gradually become nicotine dependent. Preclinical studies with rodents show that nicotine intake in widely used self-administration models also leads to dependence. However, almost all animal studies that investigated the development of nicotine dependence have been conducted with adult male rats. To better model smoking and vaping, it is important that nicotine intake in rats or mice starts during adolescence and that both sexes are included.

The Impacts of Supervised Exercise Intervention on Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms

This study examined a supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise programme's effectiveness in regulating the Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms (TWS) during temporary abstinence. This was a single group, pre and post-quasi intervention study. Thirty daily smokers participated in an 8-week supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise programme. We assessed the TWS, smoking urge, mood and stress-pleasure related hormonal variables after the aerobic exercise intervention. The measurements were conducted after overnight abstinence at baseline, post-intervention (at week-8) and post-detraining (at week-10). TWS components, smoking urge and mood were found to improve. For hormonal variables, cortisol and beta-endorphin except adrenaline showed insignificant changes at post-intervention and de-training. The findings suggest moderate-intensity exercise might help in reducing withdrawal symptoms and its adverse effects. Thus, exercise is an effective adjunct treatment in a smoking cessation programme.

Cross-talk between the HPA axis and addiction-related regions in stressful situations

Addiction is a worldwide problem that has a negative impact on society by imposing significant costs on health care, public security, and the deactivation of the community economic cycle. Stress is an important risk factor in the development of addiction and relapse vulnerability. Here we review studies that have demonstrated the diverse roles of stress in addiction. Term searches were conducted manually in important reference journals as well as in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases, between 2010 and 2022. In each section of this narrative review, an effort has been made to use pertinent sources. First, we will provide an overview of changes in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis component following stress, which impact reward-related regions including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Then we will focus on internal factors altered by stress and their effects on drug addiction vulnerability. We conclude that alterations in neuro-inflammatory, neurotrophic, and neurotransmitter factors following stress pathways can impact related mechanisms on craving and relapse susceptibility.

Cumulative vulnerabilities and smoking abstinence: A test from a randomized clinical trial

Smoking cessation is often associated with socioeconomic and intrapersonal vulnerabilities such as psychopathology. Yet, most research that focuses on predicting smoking cessation outcomes tends focus on a small number of possible vulnerabilities. In a secondary data analysis, we developed and empirically evaluated a comprehensive, cumulative vulnerability risk composite reflecting psychologically based transdiagnostic processes, social determinants of health, and psychopathology. Participants were adult smokers who responded to study advertisements (e.g., flyers, newspaper ads, radio announcements) for an in-person delivered 4-session smoking cessation trial (N = 267; 47% female; Mage = 39.4, SD = 13.8). Results indicated that the decline in point prevalence abstinence (PPA) from quit week to 6-month post-quit was statistically significant (p < .001). There were statistically significant effects of cumulative risk score on the intercept (p < .001) and slope (p = .01). These findings were evident in unadjusted and adjusted (controlling for sex, treatment condition, and nicotine dependence) models. The present results indicate smokers with greater cumulative vulnerability demonstrated poorer smoking cessation outcomes. There may be clinical advantages to better understanding cumulative vulnerability among treatment-seeking smokers and other smoking populations to enhance the impact of public health efforts to reduce smoking.

The D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 decrease operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in male and female rats

BACKGROUND

The reinforcing properties of nicotine play a critical role in smoking and vaping. There is a need for treatments that decrease the reinforcing properties of nicotine and thereby improve smoking and vaping rates. Dopamine plays a role in the reinforcing properties of nicotine, but little is known about the role of dopamine D2-like receptors in nicotine intake and whether there are sex differences in the effects of dopaminergic drugs on nicotine intake.

AIM

The goal of the present studies was to investigate the effects of the D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 on nicotine self-administration in male and female rats.

METHODS

The effects of flupentixol and L-741626 on operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in a small open field were investigated.

RESULTS

There were no sex differences in baseline nicotine intake. The D1/D2-like receptor antagonist flupentixol and the D2-like receptor antagonist L-741626 decreased operant responding for nicotine. Blockade of D1/D2-like receptors and blockade of D2-like receptors also decreased operant responding for food and decreased locomotor activity. Flupentixol induced a greater decrease in operant responding for food in males than females. However, in the other tests, there were no sex differences in the effects of the dopamine receptor antagonists.

CONCLUSIONS

Blockade of D1/D2-like receptors with flupentixol and D2-like receptors with L-741626 decreases nicotine and food intake in rats of both sexes. These compounds also decrease locomotor activity which might be indicative of a sedative effect.

Recent Studies on the Development of Nicotine Abuse and Behavioral Changes Induced by Chronic Stress Depending on Gender

Nowadays, stressful situations are an unavoidable element of everyday life. Stressors activate a number of complex mental and physiological reactions in the organism, thus affecting the state of health of an individual. Stress is the main risk factor in the development of mental disorders, such as depression and other disorders developing as a result of addiction. Studies indicate that women are twice as likely as men to develop anxiety, depression and therefore addiction, e.g., to nicotine. Even though the data presented is indicative of significant differences between the sexes in the prevalence of these disorders, the majority of preclinical animal models for investigating stress-induced disorders use predominantly male subjects. However, the recent data indicates that this type of studies has also been launched in female rodents. Therefore, conducting research on both sexes allows for a more accurate understanding and assessment of the impact of stress on stress-induced behavioral, peripheral and molecular changes in the body and brain. In this manuscript we have gathered the data from 41 years (from 1981-2022) on the influence of stress on the development of depression and nicotine addiction in both sexes.

Blunted cortisol and normal sympathetic nervous system responses to an acute psychosocial stressor in internet addiction

Studies have demonstrated that addiction leads to blunted responses of cortisol and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to acute stressors; however, limited studies have examined the neuroendocrine and SNS stress responses in Internet addiction (IA). To examine acute stress responses in IA, the current study recruited a total of 76 Japanese university students and staff members (51 females and 25 males, mean age = 22.4 years, SD = 4.7), and measured the salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), and blood pressure (BP) responses to an acute stressor under stress or a nonstress placebo conditions in IA and non-IA groups. The results revealed that patients with IA showed a blunted cortisol response to a stressor. In contrast, no differences were found in the sAA and BP responses between the IA and non-IA groups. These results suggest that IA may be characterized by blunted cortisol responses in acute stress settings.

Dopamine D1-like receptor blockade and stimulation decreases operant responding for nicotine and food in male and female rats

Dopamine has been implicated in the reinforcing effects of smoking. However, there remains a need for a better understanding of the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor agonists on nicotine intake and the role of sex differences in the effects of dopaminergic drugs on behavior. This work studied the effects of D1-like receptor stimulation and blockade on operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in male and female rats. The effects of the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.003, 0.01, 0.03 mg/kg) and the D1-like receptor agonist A77636 (0.1, 0.3, 1 mg/kg) on responding for nicotine and food, and locomotor activity were investigated. The effects of SCH 23390 were investigated 15 min and 24 h after treatment, and the effects of the long-acting drug A77636 were investigated 15 min, 24 h, and 48 h after treatment. Operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity were decreased immediately after treatment with SCH 23390. Treatment with SCH 23390 did not have any long-term effects. Operant responding for nicotine was still decreased 48 h after treatment with A77636, and food responding was decreased up to 24 h after treatment. Treatment with A77636 only decreased locomotor activity at the 48 h time point. There were no sex differences in the effects of SCH 23390 or A77636. In conclusion, the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 reduces nicotine intake and causes sedation in rats. Stimulation of D1-like receptors with A77636 decreases nicotine intake at time points that the drug does not cause sedation.

Acute Effects of Nicotine on Physiological Responses and Sport Performance in Healthy Baseball Players

There is interest in whether nicotine could enhance attention in sporting performance, but evidence on the acute effect of nicotine on physical response and sports performance in baseball players remains scant. This was an observational study to examine whether nicotine gum chewed before exercise could provide acute effects on physiological responses and sport performance. Accordingly, heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cotinine concentration and α-amylase activity, cognitive function, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance were measured. Thirteen healthy male non-smoker baseball players were recruited. Conducting two sequences with 7-day intervals, they chewed nicotine gum (nicotine group) or flavor-matched placebo gum (placebo group) for 30 min. HRV and saliva analyses were conducted before gum consumption (S1), after gum consumption (S2), and after test completion (S3). Cognitive, muscle strength, and baseball-hitting performance tests were performed after nicotine or placebo gum chewing. The outcomes of all assessed variables were compared within and between the groups. Significant changes in HRV, α-amylase, testosterone, and cortisol were observed in the nicotine group at S2 and S3 (p < 0.05). Compared with the placebo group, the nicotine group exhibited enhanced motor reaction times, grooved pegboard test (GPT) results on cognitive function, and baseball-hitting performance, and small effect sizes were noted (d = 0.47, 0.46 and 0.41, respectively). Nicotine could induce changes in endocrine and sympathetic nerve activity and enhance cognitive function and baseball-hitting performance. However, no increase in muscle strength was observed after nicotine intake.

Rewarding Effects of Nicotine Self-administration Increase Over Time in Male and Female Rats

INTRODUCTION

Smoking and the use of other nicotine-containing products is rewarding in humans. The self-administration of nicotine is also rewarding in male rats. However, it is unknown if there are sex differences in the reward-enhancing effects of nicotine self-administration and if the rewarding effects of nicotine change over time.

METHODS

Rats were prepared with catheters and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) electrodes to investigate the effects of nicotine and saline self-administration on reward function. A decrease in thresholds in the ICSS procedure reflects an enhancement of reward function. The ICSS parameters were determined before and after the self-administration sessions from days 1 to 10, and after the self-administration sessions from days 11 to 15.

RESULTS

During the first 10 days, there was no sex difference in nicotine intake, but during the last 5 days, the females took more nicotine than the males. During the first 10 days, nicotine self-administration did not lower the brain reward thresholds but decreased the response latencies. During the last 5 days, nicotine lowered the reward thresholds and decreased the response latencies. An analysis with the 5-day averages (days 1-5, 6-10, and 11-15) showed that the reward enhancing and stimulatory effects of nicotine increased over time. There were no sex differences in the reward-enhancing and stimulatory effects of nicotine. The nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine diminished the reward-enhancing and stimulatory effects of nicotine.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that the rewarding effects of nicotine self-administration increase over time, and there are no sex differences in the reward-enhancing effects of nicotine self-administration in rats.

IMPLICATIONS

This study investigated the rewarding effect of nicotine and saline self-administration in male and female rats. The self-administration of nicotine, but not saline, enhanced brain reward function and had stimulatory effects. The rewarding effects of nicotine increased over time in the males and the females. Despite that the females had a higher level of nicotine intake than the males, the reward-enhancing effects of nicotine self-administration were the same. These findings suggest that in new tobacco and e-cigarette users, nicotine's rewarding effects might increase quickly, and a higher level of nicotine use in females might not translate into greater rewarding effects.

Selective Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 7 Enzymes Reduces Motivation for Nicotine Use through Modulation of Mesolimbic Dopaminergic Transmission

Approximately 5 million people die from diseases related to nicotine addiction and tobacco use each year. The nicotine-induced increase of corticomesolimbic dopaminergic (DAergic) transmission and hypodopaminergic conditions occurring during abstinence are important for maintaining drug-use habits. We examined the notion of reequilibrating DAergic transmission by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7), an intracellular enzyme highly expressed in the corticomesolimbic circuitry and responsible for the degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), the main second messenger modulated by DA receptor activation. Using selective PDE7 inhibitors, we demonstrated in male rats that systemic PDE7 enzyme inhibition reduced nicotine self-administration and prevented reinstatement to nicotine seeking evoked by cues or by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine. The effect was also observed by direct application of the PDE7 inhibitors into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell but not into the core. Inhibition of PDE7 resulted in increased DA- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein and cAMP response element-binding protein and their phosphorylated forms in the NAc. It also enhanced the DA D1 receptor agonism-mediated effects, indicating potentiation of protein kinase A-dependent transmission downstream of D1 receptor activation. In electrophysiological recordings from DA neurons in the lateral posterior ventral tegmental area, the PDE7 inhibitors attenuated the spontaneous activity of DA neurons. This effect was exerted through the potentiation of D1 receptor signaling and the subsequent facilitation of γ-aminobutyric acid transmission. The PDE7 inhibitors did not elicit conditioned place preference and did not induce intravenous self-administration, indicating lack of reinforcing properties. Thus, PDE7 inhibitors have the potential to treat nicotine abuse.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The World Health Organization estimates that there are 1.25 billion smokers worldwide, representing one-third of the global population over the age of 15. Nicotine-induced increase of corticomesolimbic DAergic transmission and hypodopaminergic conditions occurring during abstinence are critical for maintaining drug-use habits. Here, we demonstrate that nicotine consumption and relapse to nicotine seeking are attenuated by reequilibrating DAergic transmission through inhibition of PDE7, an intracellular enzyme responsible for the degradation of cAMP, the main second messenger modulated by DA receptor activation. PDE7 inhibition may represent a novel treatment approach to aid smoking cessation.

Consideration of sex as a biological variable in the translation of pharmacotherapy for stress-associated drug seeking

Stress is a frequent precipitant of relapse to drug use. Pharmacotherapies targeting a diverse array of neural systems have been assayed for efficacy in attenuating stress-induced drug-seeking in both rodents and in humans, but none have shown enough evidence of utility to warrant routine use in the clinic. We posit that a critical barrier in effective translation is inattention to sex as a biological variable at all phases of the research process. In this review, we detail the neurobiological systems implicated in stress-induced relapse to cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine, and cannabis, as well as the pharmacotherapies that have been used to target these systems in rodent models, the human laboratory, and in clinical trials. In each of these areas we additionally describe the potential influences of biological sex on outcomes, and how inattention to fundamental sex differences can lead to biases during drug development that contribute to the limited success of large clinical trials. Based on these observations, we determine that of the pharmacotherapies discussed only α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists and oxytocin have a body of research with sufficient consideration of biological sex to warrant further clinical evaluation. Pharmacotherapies that target β-adrenergic receptors, other neuroactive peptides, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroactive steroids, and the endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems require further assessment in females at the preclinical and human laboratory levels before progression to clinical trials can be recommended.

Adolescent nicotine treatment causes robust locomotor sensitization during adolescence but impedes the spontaneous acquisition of nicotine intake in adult female Wistar rats

Very few people are able to quit smoking, and therefore it is essential to know which factors contribute to the development of compulsive nicotine use. These studies aimed to investigate if early-adolescent nicotine exposure causes locomotor sensitization and affects anxiety-like behavior and the spontaneous acquisition of intravenous nicotine self-administration. Early-adolescent male and female rats were treated with nicotine from postnatal (P) days 24 to 42, and anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity were investigated one day after the cessation of nicotine treatment and in adulthood (>P75). The spontaneous acquisition of nicotine self-administration was also investigated in adulthood. The rats self-administered 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine for six days under a fixed-ratio (FR) 1 schedule and four days under an FR2 schedule (3-h sessions). Repeated nicotine administration increased locomotor activity, rearing, and stereotypies in a small open field in adolescent male and female rats. One day after the last nicotine injection, the percentage of open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test was decreased in the males and increased in the females. However, locomotor activity in the small open field was unaffected. Adolescent nicotine treatment did not affect anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity in adulthood. During the 10-day nicotine self-administration period, the females had a higher level of nicotine intake than the males. Adolescent nicotine treatment decreased nicotine intake in the females. In conclusion, these findings indicate that repeated nicotine administration during adolescence causes robust behavioral sensitization and leads to lower nicotine intake in females throughout the acquisition period in adulthood in rats.

The impact of chronic daily nicotine exposure and its overnight withdrawal on the structure of anxiety-related behaviors in rats: Role of the lateral habenula

Tobacco smoking is a serious health problem worldwide and a leading cause of mortality. Nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, affects a range of emotional responses, including anxiety-related behaviors. Although perceived by smokers to be anxiolytic, evidence suggests that smoking increases anxiety and that mood fluctuates with nicotine intake. Thus, nicotine addiction may depend on easing the psychobiological distress caused by its abuse. The lateral habenula (LHb) has been implicated as a neural substrate for acute nicotine-induced anxiety, but its role in anxiety-like behaviors associated with chronic nicotine exposure has not been explored. Here, we assessed the effect of chronic nicotine exposure and its subsequent overnight withdrawal on anxiety-like behavior using both quantitative and multivariate T-pattern analysis in rats tested using the hole-board apparatus. Additionally, we explored the role of the LHb by comparing the behavioral effects of short-term nicotine withdrawal in chronically treated LHb-lesioned rats. Quantitative analysis revealed increased anxiety-like behavior in chronically treated overnight nicotine-deprived rats, as manifested in reduced general and focused exploratory behaviors, which was eased in animals that received nicotine. Quantitative analysis failed to reveal a role of the LHb in overnight nicotine deprivation-induced anxiety. Conversely, T-pattern analysis of behavioral outcomes revealed that chronic nicotine-treated rats still show anxiety-like behavior following nicotine challenge. Moreover, it demonstrated that the LHb lesion induced a stronger anxiolytic-like response to the acute challenge of nicotine in chronically nicotine-exposed animals, implicating the LHb in the anxiogenic effect of chronic nicotine exposure. These data further highlight the LHb as a promising target for smoking cessation therapies and support the importance of T-pattern analysis for behavioral analysis.

Tobacco use as a well-recognized cause of severe COVID-19 manifestations

INTRODUCTION

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection is caused by the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affecting the lungs. All tobacco-related illnesses including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and coronary artery disease are known to reduce the lung capacity and impair the immune system of the body and can greatly influence the ability to fight the novel coronavirus. The purpose of this state-of-the-art literature review is to summarize the evidence of the association of tobacco use with the severity of the COVID-19 manifestations.

METHOD

Articles describing the association of tobacco use with the severity of COVID-19 manifestations were searched on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google. This review covers the relevant studies on the subject published from January 1, 2020 to September 10, 2020.

RESULTS

Tobacco use in all forms, whether smoking or chewing, is significantly associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes. Pre-existing comorbidities in tobacco users such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and hypertension were found to further aggravate the disease manifestations making the treatment of such COVID-19 patients more challenging due to their rapid clinical deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS

Current review indicates that nicotine exposure is linked to cardiopulmonary vulnerability to COVID-19 and tobacco use can be a potential risk factor for not only getting the viral infection but also its severe manifestations. The current pandemic provides a teachable moment to break the cycle of nicotine addiction and accelerate national tobacco control programs to achieve a tobacco-free world.

Nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine, morphine, and ethanol increase norepinephrine output in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis of freely moving rats

The bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) is a complex limbic area involved in neuroendocrine and behavioural responses and, in particular, in the modulation of the stress response. BNST is innervated by dopamine and norepinephrine, which are known to be involved in drug addiction. It is also known that several drugs of abuse increase dopamine transmission in the BNST, but there has been less research regarding the effect on norepinephrine transmission. Here, we have used the microdialysis technique to investigate the effect of several drugs of abuse on norepinephrine transmission in the BNST of freely moving rats. We observed that nicotine (0.2-0.4 mg/kg), cocaine (2.5-5 mg/kg), amphetamine (0.25-0.5 mg/kg), and ethanol (0.5-1.0 g/kg), dose-dependently increased norepinephrine output while the effect of morphine at 3.0 was lower than that of 1.0 mg/kg. These results suggest that many drugs of abuse, though possessing diverse mechanisms of action, share the property of increasing norepinephrine transmission in the BNST. Furthermore, we suggest that the recurring activation of NE transmission in the BNST, due to drug administration, contributes to the alteration of the function that BNST assumes in how the behavioural response to stress manifests, favouring the establishment of the stress-induced drug seeking.

Evaluation of Sex Differences in the Elasticity of Demand for Nicotine and Food in Rats

INTRODUCTION

Animal studies can inform policy regarding nicotine levels in tobacco products and e-cigarette solutions. Increasing the price of nicotine-containing products decreases their use, but it is unknown how the relationship between price and consumption is affected by both sex and nicotine dose.

METHODS

A behavioral economics procedure was used to determine the demand elasticity for nicotine in male and female rats. Demand elasticity describes the relationship between price and consumption. A high level of elasticity indicates that consumption is relatively sensitive to increases in price. The rats self-administered a low dose (0.01 mg/kg/inf) or a standard dose (0.03 mg/kg/inf) of nicotine for 9 days under a fixed-ratio (FR) 1 schedule. Then the price (FR schedule) of nicotine was increased, and a demand analysis was conducted. A similar study was conducted with palatable food pellets.

RESULTS

There were no sex differences in nicotine or food intake under the FR1 schedule. However, demand for 0.03 mg/kg/inf of nicotine was more elastic in females than males. Demand for 0.01 mg/kg/inf of nicotine and food was more elastic in males than females.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that there are no differences in nicotine and food intake between males and females when the price is low. When the price of nicotine or food is increased, males maintain their old level of intake longer than females when they have access to a standard dose of nicotine, and females maintain their intake longer when they have access to a low dose of nicotine or food.

IMPLICATIONS

This behavioral economics analysis indicates that there is no sex difference in nicotine intake when the price of nicotine is low. Increasing the price of nicotine decreases nicotine intake in a dose- and sex-specific manner. Males maintain their old level of intake longer when they have access to a standard dose of nicotine and females when they have access to a low dose. This has implications for tobacco regulatory policy. In a regulatory environment where only low nicotine-containing products are allowed, increasing the price of nicotine products may lead to a greater decrease in nicotine use in males than females.

Nicotine' actions on energy balance: Friend or foe?

Obesity has reached pandemic proportions and is associated with severe comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hepatic and cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancer types. However, the therapeutic options to treat obesity are limited. Extensive epidemiological studies have shown a strong relationship between smoking and body weight, with non-smokers weighing more than smokers at any age. Increased body weight after smoking cessation is a major factor that interferes with their attempts to quit smoking. Numerous controlled studies in both humans and rodents have reported that nicotine, the main bioactive component of tobacco, exerts a marked anorectic action. Furthermore, nicotine is also known to modulate energy expenditure, by regulating the thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT), as well as glucose homeostasis. Many of these actions occur at central level, by controlling the activity of hypothalamic neuropeptide systems such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC), or energy sensors such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, direct impact of nicotine on metabolic tissues, such as BAT, WAT, liver and pancreas has also been described. Here, we review the actions of nicotine on energy balance. The relevance of this interaction is interesting, because considering the restricted efficiency of obesity treatments, a possible complementary approach may focus on compounds with known pharmacokinetic profile and pharmacological actions, such as nicotine or nicotinic acetylcholine receptors signaling.

Depressive symptoms predict smoking cessation in a 20-year longitudinal study of adult twins

Depression has been suggested to hinder smoking cessation, especially when co-occurring with nicotine dependence. The study aimed to examine the longitudinal association of depressive symptoms with smoking cessation among daily smokers. The study utilized adult Finnish twin cohort where 1438 daily smokers (mean age: 38.3, range: 33-45) in 1990 were re-examined for their smoking status in 2011. We assessed baseline depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory, and the self-reported smoking status at follow-up. The methods included multinomial logistic regression and time to event analyses, adjusted for multiple covariates (age, sex, marital status, social class, heavy drinking occasions, and health status) and smoking heaviness at baseline assessed by cigarettes per day (CPD). Additionally, within-twin-pair analyses were conducted. Results indicated that moderate/severe depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation two decades later. Adjusting for covariates, those with moderate/severe depressive symptoms (vs. no/minimal depressive symptoms) had 46% lower likelihood of quitting (relative risk ratio, RRR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30-0.96). After including CPD, the association of depressive symptoms with smoking cessation attenuated modestly (RRR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.34-1.12). Further, time to event analysis for quitting year since baseline yielded similar findings. In the within-pair analysis, depressive symptoms were not associated with quitting smoking. The results suggest that reporting more depressive symptoms is associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation during a 20-year period. The baseline amount of smoking and familial factors partly explain the observed association. Smoking cessation programs should monitor depressive symptoms.

Prenatal cigarette smoking as a mediator between racism and depressive symptoms: The Biosocial Impact on Black Births Study

OBJECTIVE

This study examined whether cigarette smoking mediated the association of racial discrimination with depressive symptoms among pregnant Black women.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SAMPLE

Two hundred Black women at 8-29 weeks gestation.

MEASUREMENTS

Women completed questionnaires including the Experiences of Discrimination and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scales, as well as questions about sociodemographic characteristics and cigarette smoking.

RESULTS

The mean age of the sample was 26.9 ± 5.7 years and the mean gestational age at data collection was 15.6 ± 5.7 weeks. Approximately 17% of women reported prenatal cigarette smoking; 27% had prenatal CES-D scores ≥23, which have been correlated with depression diagnoses; and 59% reported ever (lifetime) experiencing discrimination in at least one situation (e.g., at work). Path analysis results indicated that the standardized indirect effect of experiences of racial discrimination on CES-D scores through prenatal smoking was statistically significant (standardized indirect effect = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.094; p = .042).

CONCLUSION

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy partially mediated the association between lifetime experiences of racial discrimination and prenatal depressive symptoms among pregnant Black women. Smoking cessation programs should focus on identifying and treating depressive symptoms among pregnant Black women.

Relationship Between Nicotine Intake and Reward Function in Rats With Intermittent Short Versus Long Access to Nicotine

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco use improves mood states and smoking cessation leads to anhedonia, which contributes to relapse. Animal studies have shown that noncontingent nicotine administration enhances brain reward function and leads to dependence. However, little is known about the effects of nicotine self-administration on the state of the reward system.

METHODS

To investigate the relationship between nicotine self-administration and reward function, rats were prepared with intracranial self-stimulation electrodes and intravenous catheters. The rats were trained on the intracranial self-stimulation procedure and allowed to self-administer 0.03 mg/kg/infusion of nicotine. All rats self-administered nicotine daily for 10 days (1 hour/day) and were then switched to an intermittent short access (ShA, 1 hour/day) or long access (LgA, 23 hour/day) schedule (2 days/week, 5 weeks).

RESULTS

During the first 10 daily, 1-hour sessions, nicotine self-administration decreased the reward thresholds, which indicates that nicotine potentiates reward function. After switching to the intermittent LgA or ShA schedule, nicotine intake was lower in the ShA rats than the LgA rats. The LgA rats increased their nicotine intake over time and they gradually consumed a higher percentage of their nicotine during the light phase. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine induced a larger increase in reward thresholds (ie, anhedonia) in the LgA rats than the ShA rats. In the LgA rats, nAChR blockade with mecamylamine decreased nicotine intake for 2 hours and this was followed by a rebound increase in nicotine intake.

CONCLUSIONS

A brief period of nicotine self-administration enhances reward function and a high level of nicotine intake leads to dependence.

IMPLICATIONS

These animal studies indicate that there is a strong relationship between the level of nicotine intake and brain reward function. A high level of nicotine intake was more rewarding than a low level of nicotine intake and nicotine dependence was observed after long, but not short, access to nicotine. This powerful combination of nicotine reward and withdrawal makes it difficult to quit smoking. Blockade of nAChRs temporarily decreased nicotine intake, but this was followed by a large rebound increase in nicotine intake. Therefore, nAChR blockade might not decrease the use of combustible cigarettes or electronic cigarettes.

Rewarding Effects of Nicotine in Adolescent and Adult Male and Female Rats as Measured Using Intracranial Self-stimulation

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco is highly addictive, and after the development of dependence, it is difficult to quit smoking. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that play a role in the initiation of smoking. The rewarding effects of nicotine play a role in the initiation of smoking and the goal of the present study was to determine the rewarding effects of nicotine in adolescent and adult male and female rats.

METHODS

Male and female Wistar rats were prepared with intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) electrodes between postnatal day (P) 23 and 33. They were then trained on the ICSS procedure and the effect of nicotine (0, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) on the reward thresholds and response latencies was investigated during adolescence (P40-59) or adulthood (>P75).

RESULTS

Nicotine lowered the brain reward thresholds of the adult and adolescent male and female rats. The nicotine-induced decrease in the reward thresholds was the same in the adult male and adult female rats. However, nicotine induced a greater decrease in the reward thresholds of the adolescent female rats than the adolescent male rats. Nicotine decreased the response latencies of all groups and there was no effect of age or sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Nicotine enhances reward function and psychomotor performance in adolescent and adult male and female rats. Adolescent female rats are more sensitive to the acute rewarding effects of nicotine than adolescent male rats. Therefore, the rewarding effects of nicotine might play a greater role in the initiation of smoking in adolescent females than in adolescent males.

IMPLICATIONS

The great majority of people start smoking during adolescence. The present studies suggest that during this period female rats are more sensitive to the acute rewarding effects of low and intermediate doses of nicotine than male rats. The rewarding properties of nicotine play a role in the initiation of smoking and establishing habitual smoking. Therefore, the present findings might explain why adolescent females are at a higher risk for becoming nicotine dependent than adolescent males.

Trial-by-Trial Fluctuations in Brain Responses to Stress Predict Subsequent Smoking Decisions That Occur Several Seconds Later

BACKGROUND

To investigate the neurobiological mechanisms that determine self-regulation of smoking urges when a person encounters stress, we investigated brain network interactions of smoking self-regulation by employing a real-time smoking (nicotine delivery) decision paradigm and a brain-as-predictor neuroimaging approach.

METHODS

While in the functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner, 25 cigarette smokers who abstained from smoking overnight made 200 real smoking decisions regarding whether or not to take a puff of an electronic cigarette during 3 different stress conditions (cognitive stress, emotional stress, and no stress). Cognitive stress was induced by a concurrent working memory load, and emotional stress was induced by manipulating a chance of aversive electric shock.

RESULTS

Behaviorally, both cognitive and emotional stress manipulations increased the probability of making a decision to smoke (i.e., taking a puff). In magnetic resonance imaging trial-by-trial analyses, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity measured at the time of the stress cue significantly predicted future smoking decisions that occurred several seconds later. Furthermore, the influence of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity on smoking decisions was mediated by the ventral striatum activity at the time of smoking decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that brain responses at the time of a stressful moment determine subsequent trial-by-trial smoking decisions by systematically altering brain executive (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and reward (ventral striatum) system network activities. Our results further suggest potential translational importance of neuroscientific approaches to predicting self-regulation failures at critical stressful moments.

Determinants of Tobacco Smoking Addiction in Rural Indonesian Communities

Purpose

To analyze the determinants of tobacco smoking addiction in rural areas.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on February 2020. The self-administered questionnaire (α = 0.908) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 were used as tobacco smoking determinants and the WHO ASSIST questionnaire V3.0 to determine its addiction risk. Their correlations were analyzed by Spearman's rank-order approach using the SPSS version 23.0.

Results

Among 75 male respondents that participated in this study, those on low, moderate, and high addiction risk were 45 (60.00%), 23 (30.67%), and 7 (9.33%), respectively, and significantly correlated with the research questionnaire that consisted three parts: 1. awareness toward the health risk; 2. social control; 3. mass media role in tobacco smoking (p=0.014, 0.004, and 0.009 respectively), but there was no significant correlation with the stress level (p=0.287).

Conclusion

Increased awareness toward the health risk, good social control, and mass media reporting the danger of tobacco smoking is significantly in correlation with the decreased addiction in rural areas. However, the high perceived stress has no correlation with its increase.

Regulation of aggressive behaviors by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: Animal models, human genetics, and clinical studies

Neuropsychiatric disorders are frequently complicated by aggressive behaviors. For some individuals, existing behavioral and psychopharmacological treatments are ineffective or confer significant side effects, necessitating development of new ways to treat patients with severe aggression. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a large and diverse family of ligand-gated ion channels expressed throughout the brain that influence behaviors highly relevant for neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention, mood, and impulsivity. Nicotine and other drugs targeting nAChRs can reduce aggression in animal models of offensive, defensive, and predatory aggression, as well as in human laboratory studies. Human genetic studies have suggested a relationship between the CHRNA7 gene encoding the alpha-7 nAChR and aggressive behavior, although these effects are heterogeneous and strongly influenced by genetic background and environment. Here we review animal, human genetic, and clinical studies supporting a consistent role of nicotine and nAChR signaling in modulation of aggressive behaviors. We integrate findings from recent studies of aggression neuroscience, discuss the circuitry that may be involved in these effects of nAChRs, and identify multiple key questions that must be answered prior to safe and effective translation for human patients. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.

Role of corticotropin-releasing factor in alcohol and nicotine addiction

The two most prevalent substance use disorders involve alcohol and nicotine, which are often co-abused. Robust preclinical and translational evidence indicates that individuals initiate drug use for the acute rewarding effects of the substance. The development of negative emotional states is key for the transition from recreational use to substance use disorders as subjects seek the substance to obtain relief from the negative emotional states of acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence. The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a major regulator of the brain stress system and key in the development of negative affective states. The present review examines the role of CRF in preclinical models of alcohol and nicotine abuse and explores links between CRF and anxiety-like, dysphoria-like, and other negative affective states. Finally, the present review discusses preclinical models of nicotine and alcohol use with regard to the CRF system, advances in molecular and genetic manipulations of CRF, and the importance of examining both males and females in this field of research.

Variability in nicotine conditioned place preference and stress-induced reinstatement in mice: Effects of sex, initial chamber preference, and guanfacine

Relapse to smoking occurs at higher rates in women compared with men, especially when triggered by stress. Studies suggest that sex-specific interactions between nicotine reward and stress contribute to these sex differences. Accordingly, novel treatment options targeting stress pathways, such as guanfacine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, may provide sex-sensitive therapeutic effects. Preclinical studies are critical for elucidating neurobiological mechanisms of stress-induced relapse and potential therapies, but rodent models of nicotine addiction are often hindered by large behavioral variability. In this study, we used nicotine conditioned place preference to investigate stress-induced reinstatement of nicotine preference in male and female mice, and the effects of guanfacine on this behavior. Our results showed that overall, nicotine induced significant place preference acquisition and swim stress-induced reinstatement in both male and female mice, but with different nicotine dose-response patterns. In addition, we explored the variability in nicotine-dependent behaviors with median split analyses and found that initial chamber preference in each sex differentially accounted for variability in stress-induced reinstatement. In groups that showed significant stress-induced reinstatement, pretreatment with guanfacine attenuated this behavior. Finally, we evaluated neuronal activation by Arc immunoreactivity in the infralimbic cortex, prelimbic cortex, anterior insula, basolateral amygdala, lateral central amygdala and nucleus accumbens core and shell. Guanfacine induced sex-dependent changes in Arc immunoreactivity in the infralimbic cortex and anterior insula. This study demonstrates sex-dependent relationships between initial chamber preference and stress-induced reinstatement of nicotine conditioned place preference, and the effects of guanfacine on both behavior and neurobiological mechanisms.

Effects of chronic nicotine on the temporal structure of anxiety-related behavior in rats tested in hole-board

The present study aimed to assess the behavioral effects of chronic treatments of different doses of nicotine by using both quantitative and multivariate T-pattern analysis (TPA), which can reveal hidden behavioral structures, in Sprague-Dawley rats tested in the hole-board apparatus. To this purpose, nicotine ditartrate was administered at the doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg i.p., three times per day, for 14 consecutive days. As to quantitative evaluations, we observed significant reductions in the mean durations and mean frequencies of walking, climbing, immobile-sniffing and rearing in comparison to control. A significant reduction of edge-sniff and head-dip mean frequencies was also detected for all the doses tested. TPA revealed an increase in the number and the mean length of different T-patterns induced by the three doses of nicotine. On the other hand, a significant reduction of the mean occurrences of T-patterns was revealed. Overall, our results obtained by using both quantitative and T-pattern analyses indicate that chronic nicotine induces an anxiety condition characterized by a behavioral re-organization orbiting around the two main components of hole exploration, that is, head-dip and edge-sniff. A better understanding of the link between nicotine and anxiety might help to find new therapies for smoking cessation.

Sex differences in the reward deficit and somatic signs associated with precipitated nicotine withdrawal in rats

Female smokers are more likely to relapse than male smokers, but little is known about sex differences in nicotine withdrawal. Therefore, male and female rats were prepared with minipumps that contained nicotine or saline and sex differences in precipitated and spontaneous nicotine withdrawal were investigated. The intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure was used to assess mood states. Elevations in brain reward thresholds reflect a deficit in reward function. Anxiety-like behavior was investigated after the acute nicotine withdrawal phase in a large open field and the elevated plus maze test. The nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine elevated the brain reward thresholds of the nicotine-treated rats but did not affect those of the saline-treated control rats. A low dose of mecamylamine elevated the brain reward thresholds of the nicotine-treated male rats but not those of the females. Mecamylamine also precipitated more somatic withdrawal signs in the nicotine-treated male than female rats. Minipump removal elevated the brain reward thresholds of the nicotine-treated rats for about 36 h but did not affect those of the saline-treated rats. There was no sex difference in the reward deficit during spontaneous nicotine withdrawal. In addition, the nicotine-treated male and female rats did not display increased anxiety-like behavior three to four days after minipump removal. In conclusion, these studies suggest that relatively low doses of a nicotinic receptor antagonist induce a greater reward deficit and more somatic withdrawal signs in male than female rats, but there is no sex difference in the reward deficit during spontaneous withdrawal.