Abstract
Rats were trained to discriminate 200 or 400 μg/kg (-)nicotine from saline in a two-bar operant paradigm. Dose-response relationships for optically pure (-)- and (+)nicotine as well as antagonistic effects were examined in both groups of rats. The natural isomer (-)nicotine was approximately nine-times more potent than (+)nicotine. Mecamylamine produced equal blockade of the (-)- and (+)nicotine cues. Hexamethonium and atropine were without effect. These data demonstrate the possible stereospecificity of the central nicotinic receptor that mediates the stimulus effect produced by nicotine.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abood, L. G., Lowy, K., Tometsko, A., Booth, H.: Electrophysiological, behavioral and chemical evidence for a noncholinergic, stereospecific site for nicotine in rat brain. J. Neurosci. Res. 3, 327–333 (1978)
Aceto, M. D., Martin, B. R., Uwaydah, I. M., May, E. L., Harris, L. S., Izazola-Conde, C., Dewey, W. L., Bradshaw, T. J., Vincek, W. C.: Optically pure (±)nicotine from (±)nicotine and biological comparisons with (-)nicotine. J. Med. Chem. 22, 174–177 (1979)
Chance, W. T., Kallman, M. D., Rosecrans, J. A., Spencer, R. M.: A comparison of nicotine and structurally related compounds as discriminative stimuli. Br. J. Pharmacol. 63, 609–616 (1978)
Domino, E. F.: Some comparative pharmacological actions of (-)nicotine, its optical isomer, and related compounds. In: Tobacco Tobacco alkaloids and related compounds. Wenner-Gren center international symposium series, vol. 4, U.S. von Euler, ed., pp. 303–314. New York, London: Pergamon 1965
Hirschhorn, I. D., Rosecrans, J. A.: Studies on the time course and the effect of cholinergic and adrenergic receptor blockers on the stimulus effect of nicotine. Psychopharmacologia 40, 109–120 (1974)
Morrison, C. F., Stephenson, J. A.: Nicotine injections as the conditioned stimulus in discrimination learning. Psychopharmacologia 15, 351–360 (1969)
Rosecrans, J. A.: Brain area nicotine levels in male and female rats with different levels of spontaneous activity. Neuropharmacology 11, 863–870 (1972)
Rosecrans, J. A., Chance, W. T.: Cholinergic and non-cholinergic aspects of the discriminative stimulus properties of nicotine. In: Discriminative stimulus properties of drugs, H. Lal, ed., pp. 155–185 New York: Plenum 1977
Schechter, M. D., Rosecrans, J. A.: CNS effect of nicotine as the discriminative stimulus for the rat in a T-maze. Life Sci. 10, 821–832 (1971a)
Schechter, M. D., Rosecrans, J. A.: Behavioral evidence for two types of cholinergic receptors in the CNS. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 15, 375–378 (1971b)
Schmiterlow, G. E., Hansson, E., Andersson, G., Appelgren, L. E., Hoffman, P. C.: Distribution of nicotine in the central nervous system. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 142, 2–14 (1967)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meltzer, L.T., Rosecrans, J.A., Aceto, M.D. et al. Discriminative stimulus properties of the optical isomers of nicotine. Psychopharmacology 68, 283–286 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428116
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428116