Lack of GABA(B1) receptors modifies nicotine behavioral responses in mice.

VARANI ANDRÉS P; CALVO MARIELA; BALERIO GRACIELA

Tandil. Argentina

Congreso; XL Reunión anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental; 2008

Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental

Nicotine (NIC) is one of the active components of tobacco and some of acute behavioural effects induced by NIC can contribute to its abuse potential in humans. We have demonstrated that the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, increased the hypolocomotion induced by NIC and decreased the antinociceptive effects in the hot-plate test. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of GABAB(1) receptors in responses induced by acute NIC administration by using knockout mice lacking the GABAB(1) receptor and their wild-type littermates. The animals were injected with NIC (0.5, 1, 3 and 6 mg/kg, sc) or saline and five minutes after locomotor activity was measured for a period of ten minutes. The antinociceptive responses were determined by tail-inmersion and hot-plate tests, 15 and 16 min after NIC or saline injection, respectively. Acute NIC administration decreased locomotor activity and induced antinociceptive responses in the tail-inmersion test at the dose of 3 and 6 mg/kg (p