Skip to main content
Log in

Attenuation by baclofen of nicotine rewarding properties and nicotine withdrawal manifestations

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rationale

Nicotine is a major active ingredient in tobacco and plays a major role in tobacco addiction. In rodents, repeated nicotine administration produces behavioral responses related to its addictive properties, such as reinforcing effects and physical dependence.

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of GABAB receptor in responses induced by repeated nicotine administration in Swiss Webster mice.

Results

Nicotine hydrogen tartrate salt (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) administration induced rewarding properties in the conditioning place preference test. The GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (3 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the rewarding properties induced by nicotine hydrogen tartrate salt (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, naloxone-precipitated nicotine withdrawal induced somatic manifestations, anxiety-like effects in the elevated plus maze test and dysphoric manifestations in the conditioned place aversion paradigm. Baclofen (2 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented the somatic manifestations and the anxiety-like effects associated with naloxone-precipitated nicotine withdrawal but not the dysphoric manifestations.

Conclusions

These results showed that nicotine rewarding properties and negative aspects of nicotine withdrawal, such as anxiety-like effects and somatic manifestations, can be modulated by the GABAB receptor activity. This study now reveals a novel possible application of baclofen to develop new therapeutic strategies to achieve smoking cessation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abreu-Villaça Y, Nunes F, do E Queiroz-Gomes F, Manhães AC, Filgueiras CC (2008) Combined exposure to nicotine and ethanol in adolescent mice differentially affects anxiety levels during exposure, short-term, and long-term withdrawal. Neuropsychopharmacology 3(3):599–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams ML, Cicero TJ (1998) Nitric oxide mediates mecamylamine- and naloxone-precipitated nicotine withdrawal. Eur J Pharmacol 345(2):R1–R2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balerio GN, Rubio MC (2002) Baclofen analgesia: involvement of the GABAergic system. Pharmacol Res 46(3):281–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balerio GN, Aso E, Berrendero F, Murtra P, Maldonado R (2004) Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol decreases somatic and motivational manifestations of nicotine withdrawal in mice. Eur J Neurosci 20:2737–2748

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balerio GN, Aso E, Maldonado R (2005) Involvement of the opioid system in the effects induced by nicotine on anxiety-like behaviour in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 181:260–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berrendero F, Kieffer BL, Maldonado R (2002) Attenuation of nicotine-induced antinociception, rewarding effects, and dependence in mu-opioid receptor knock-out mice. J Neurosci 22(24):10935–10940

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berrendero F, Mendizábal V, Robledo P, Galeote L, Bilkei-Gorzo A, Zimmer A, Maldonado R (2005) Nicotine-induced antinociception, rewarding effects, and physical dependence are decreased in mice lacking the preproenkephalin gene. J Neurosci 25(5):1103–1112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berrendero F, Robledo P, Trigo JM, Martín-García E, Maldonado R (2010) Neurobiological mechanisms involved in nicotine dependence and reward: participation of the endogenous opioid system. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 35(2):220–231

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biała G, Budzyńska B, Kruk M (2005) Naloxone precipitates nicotine abstinence syndrome and attenuates nicotine-induced antinociception in mice. Pharmacol Rep 57(6):755–760

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carboni E, Bortone L, Giua C, Di Chiara G (2000) Dissociation of physical abstinence signs from changes in extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and in the prefrontal cortex of nicotine dependent rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 58(1–2):93–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castañé A, Valjent E, Ledent C, Parmentier M, Maldonado R, Valverde O (2002) Lack of CB1 cannabinoid receptors modifies nicotine behavioural responses, but not nicotine abstinence. Neuropharmacology 43:857–867

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castañé A, Soria G, Ledent C, Maldonado R, Valverde O (2006) Attenuation of nicotine-induced rewarding effects in A2A knockout mice. Neuropharmacology 51(3):631–640

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheeta S, Irvine EE, Kenny PJ, File SE (2001) The dorsal raphe nucleus is a crucial structure mediating nicotine’s anxiolytic effects and the development of tolerance and withdrawal responses. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 155:78–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chester JA, Cunningham CL (1999) Baclofen alters ethanol-stimulated activity but not conditioned place preference or taste aversion in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 63(2):325–331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colombo G, Agabio R, Carai MA, Lobina C, Pani M, Reali R, Addolorato G, Gessa GL (2000) Ability of baclofen in reducing alcohol intake and withdrawal severity: I–Preclinical evidence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 24(1):58–66

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigall WA, Coen KM, Adamson KL, Chow JZ (2000) Response of nicotine self-administration in the rat to manipulations of mu-opioid and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors in the ventral tegmental area. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 149:107–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cousins MS, Roberts DC, de Wit H (2002) GABA(B) receptor agonists for the treatment of drug addiction: a review of recent findings. Drug Alcohol Depend 65(3):209–220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dalvi A, Rodgers RJ (1996) GABAergic influences on plus-maze behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 128(4):380–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dani JA (2001) Overview of nicotinic receptors and their roles in the central nervous system. Biol Psychiatry 49(3):166–174

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Decker MW, Brioni JD, Bannon AW, Arneric SP (1995) Diversity of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: lessons from behaviour and implications for CNS therapeutics. Life Sci 56(8):545–570

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz SL, Kemmling AK, Rubio MC, Balerio GN (2001) Lack of sex-related differences in the prevention by baclofen of the morphine withdrawal syndrome in mice. Behav Pharmacol 12:75–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epperson CN, Toll B, Wu R, Amin Z, Czarkowski KA, Jatlow P, Mazure CM, O’Malley SS (2010) Exploring the impact of gender and reproductive status on outcomes in a randomized clinical trial of naltrexone augmentation of nicotine patch. Drug Alcohol Depend 112(1–2):1–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fadda P, Scherma M, Fresu A, Collu M, Fratta W (2003) Baclofen antagonizes nicotine-, cocaine-, and morphine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of rat. Synapse 50(1):1–6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fattore L, Cossu G, Martellotta MC, Fratta W (2002) Baclofen antagonizes intravenous self-administration of nicotine in mice and rats. Alcohol Alcohol 37(5):495–498

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fattore L, Spano MS, Cossu G, Scherma M, Fratta W, Fadda P (2009) Baclofen prevents drug-induced reinstatement of extinguished nicotine-seeking behaviour and nicotine place preference in rodents. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 19:487–498

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • File SE, Zharkovsky A, Gulati K (1991) Effects of baclofen and nitrendipine on ethanol withdrawal responses in the rat. Neuropharmacology 30(2):183–190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • File SE, Andrews N, Wu PY, Zharkovsky A, Zangrossi H Jr (1992) Modification of chlordiazepoxide’s behavioural and neurochemical effects by handling and plus-maze experience. Eur J Pharmacol 218:9–14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franklin TR, Harper D, Kampman K, Kildea-McCrea S, Jens W, Lynch KG, O’Brien CP, Childress AR (2009) The GABAB agonist baclofen reduces cigarette consumption in a preliminary double-blind placebo-controlled smoking reduction study. Drug Alcohol Depend 103(1–2):30–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert DG, Robinson JH, Chamberlin CL, Spielberger CD (1989) Effects of smoking/nicotine on anxiety, heart rate, and lateralization of EEG during a stressful movie. Psychophysiology 26(3):311–320

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrichs SC, Leite-Morris KA, Carey RJ, Kaplan GB (2010) Baclofen enhances extinction of opiate conditioned place preference. Behav Brain Res 207(2):353–359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson SR, Hofford RS, Norris CJ, Eitan S (2008) Increased elevated plus maze open-arm time in mice during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Behav Pharmacol 19(8):805–811

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houdi AA, Dasgupta R, Kindy MS (1998) Effect of nicotine use and withdrawal on brain preproenkephalin A mRNA. Brain Res 799(2):257–263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Irvine EE, Cheeta S, File SE (2001) Tolerance to nicotine’s effects in the elevated plus-maze and increased anxiety during withdrawal. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 68:319–325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ise Y, Narita M, Nagase H, Suzuki T (2000) Modulation of opioidergic system on mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine-withdrawal aversion in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 151(1):49–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isola R, Zhang H, Duchemin AM, Tejwani GA, Neff NH, Hadjiconstantinou M (2002) Met-enkephalin and preproenkephalin mRNA changes in the striatum of the nicotine abstinence mouse. Neurosci Lett 325(1):67–71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson KJ, Martin BR, Changeux JP, Damaj MI (2008) Differential role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in physical and affective nicotine withdrawal signs. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 325(1):302–312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson KJ, McIntosh JM, Brunzell DH, Sanjakdar SS, Damaj MI (2009) The role of alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in nicotine reward and withdrawal. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 331(2):547–554

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny PJ, Markou A (2001) Neurobiology of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 70(4):531–549

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King AC, Cao D, O’Malley SS, Kranzler HR, Cai X, deWit H, Matthews AK, Stachoviak RJ (2012) Effects of naltrexone on smoking cessation outcomes and weight gain in nicotine-dependent men and women. J Clin Psychopharmacol 32(5):630–636

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koob GF, Le Moal M (2001) Drug addiction, dysregulation of reward, and allostasis. Neuropsychopharmacology 24(2):97–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan-Sarin S, Rosen MI, O’Malley SS (1999) Naloxone challenge in smokers. Preliminary evidence of an opioid component in nicotine dependence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 56(7):663–668

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laviolette SR, van der Kooy D (2004) The neurobiology of nicotine addiction: bridging the gap from molecules to behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci 5:55–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Le Foll B, Wertheim CE, Goldberg SR (2008) Effects of baclofen on conditioned rewarding and discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine in rats. Neurosci Lett 443(3):236–240

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luo FC, Qi L, Lv T, Wang SD, Liu H, Nakamura H, Yodoi J, Bai J (2012) Geranylgeranylacetone protects mice against morphine-induced hyperlocomotion, rewarding effect, and withdrawal syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med 52(7):1218–1227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma YY, Cepeda C, Chatta P, Franklin L, Evans CJ, Levine MS (2012) Regional and cell-type-specific effects of DAMGO on striatal D1 and D2 dopamine receptor-expressing medium-sized spiny neurons. ASN Neuro. doi:10.1042/AN20110063

    Google Scholar 

  • Maldonado R, Saiardi A, Valverde O, Samad TA, Roques BP, Borrelli E (1997) Absence of opiate rewarding effects in mice lacking dopamine D2 receptors. Nature 388(6642):586–589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malin DH, Lake JR, Carter VA, Cunningham JS, Wilson OB (1993) Naloxone precipitates nicotine abstinence syndrome in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 112:339–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manhães AC, Guthierrez MC, Filgueiras CC, Abreu-Villaça Y (2008) Anxiety-like behavior during nicotine withdrawal predict subsequent nicotine consumption in adolescent C57BL/6 mice. Behav Brain Res 193(2):216–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Markou A (2008) Neurobiology of nicotine dependence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 363(1507):3159–3168

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Markou A, Paterson NE, Semenova S (2004) Role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and metabotropic glutamate receptors in nicotine reinforcement: potential pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1025:491–503

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthes HW, Maldonado R, Simonin F, Valverde O, Slowe S, Kitchen I, Befort K, Dierich A, Le Meur M, Dollé P, Tzavara E, Hanoune J, Roques BP, Kieffer BL (1996) Loss of morphine-induced analgesia, reward effect and withdrawal symptoms in mice lacking the mu-opioid-receptor gene. Nature 383(6603):819–823

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miura M, Saino-Saito S, Masuda M, Kobayashi K, Aosaki T (2007) Compartment-specific modulation of GABAergic synaptic transmission by mu-opioid receptor in the mouse striatum with green fluorescent protein-expressing dopamine islands. J Neurosci 27(36):9721–9728

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mori T, Komiya S, Uzawa N, Inoue K, Itoh T, Aoki S, Shibasaki M, Suzuki T (2013) Involvement of supraspinal and peripheral naloxonazine-insensitive opioid receptor sites in the expression of μ-opioid receptor agonist-induced physical dependence. Eur J Pharmacol 715(1–3):238–245

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Natividad LA, Tejeda HA, Torres OV, O’Dell LE (2010) Nicotine withdrawal produces a decrease in extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens that is lower in adolescent versus adult male rats. Synapse 64(2):136–145

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parrott AC, Garnham NJ (1998) Comparative mood states and cognitive skills of cigarette smokers, deprived smokers and nonsmokers. Hum Psychopharmacol 13:367–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson NE, Froestl W, Markou A (2004) The GABAB receptor agonists baclofen and CGP44532 decreased nicotine self-administration in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 172(2):179–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pellow S, Chopin P, File SE, Briley M (1985) Validation of open:closed arm entries in an elevated plus-maze as a measure of anxiety in the rat. J Neurosci Methods 14:149–167

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Picciotto MR, Corrigall WA (2002) Neuronal systems underlying behaviors related to nicotine addiction: neural circuits and molecular genetics. J Neurosci 22:3338–3341

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Picciotto MR, Brunzell DH, Caldarone BJ (2002) Effect of nicotine and nicotinic receptors on anxiety and depression. Neuroreport 13(9):1097–1106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pomerleau OF (1986) Nicotine as a psychoactive drug: anxiety and pain reduction. Psychopharmacol Bull 22(3):865–869

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rada P, Jensen K, Hoebel BG (2001) Effects of nicotine and mecamylamine-induced withdrawal on extracellular dopamine and acetylcholine in the rat nucleus accumbens. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 157(1):105–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rehni AK, Singh TG, Arora S (2012) SU-6656, a selective Src kinase inhibitor, attenuates mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome in mice. Nicotine Tob Res 14(4):407–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sandoval MR, Palermo-Neto J (1985) Central nervous system supersensitivity and withdrawal from long-term treatment with barbital. Neuropharmacology 24(12):1247–1251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SENASA (Resolución 617/2002): Requisitos, condiciones y procedimientos para la habilitación técnica de laboratorios que posean bioterios de producción, mantenimiento y local de experimentación

  • Spano MS, Fattore L, Fratta W, Fadda P (2007) The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen prevents heroin-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior in rats. Neuropharmacology 52(7):1555–1562

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stolerman IP, Jarvis MJ (1995) The scientific case that nicotine is addictive. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 117:2–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toll BA, White M, Wu R, Meandzija B, Jatlow P, Makuch R, O’Malley SS (2010) Low-dose naltrexone augmentation of nicotine replacement for smoking cessation with reduced weight gain: a randomized trial. Drug Alcohol Depend 111(3):200–206

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tome AR, Izaguirre V, Rosario LM, Cena V, Gonzalez-Garcia G (2001) Naloxone inhibits nicotine-induced receptor current and catecholamine secretion in bovine chromaffin cells. Brain Res 903:62–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trigo JM, Zimmer A, Maldonado R (2009) Nicotine anxiogenic and rewarding effects are decreased in mice lacking beta-endorphin. Neuropharmacology 56:1147–1153

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valverde O, Fournie-Zaluski MC, Roques BP, Maldonado R (1996) The CCKB antagonist PD-134,308 facilitates rewarding effects of endogenous enkephalins but does not induce place preference in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 123(2):119–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varani AP, Balerio GN (2012) GABAB receptors involvement in the effects induced by nicotine on anxiety-related behaviour in mice. Behav Pharmacol 65:507–513

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varani AP, Moutinho LM, Calvo M, Balerio GN (2011) Ability of baclofen to prevent somatic manifestations and neurochemical changes during nicotine withdrawal. Drug Alcohol Depend 119:5–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varani AP, Moutinho LM, Bettler B, Balerio GN (2012) Acute behavioural responses to nicotine and nicotine withdrawal syndrome are modified in GABA(B1) knockout mice. Neuropharmacology 63:863–872

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Villas Boas GR, Zamboni CG, Peretti MC, Correia D, Rueda AV, Camarini R, Brunialti-Godard AL, Boerngen-Lacerda R (2012) GABA(B) receptor agonist only reduces ethanol drinking in light-drinking mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 102(2):233–240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins SS, Stinus L, Koob GF, Markou A (2000) Reward and somatic changes during precipitated nicotine withdrawal in rats: centrally and peripherally mediated effects. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 292(3):1053–1064

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by grants from University of Buenos Aires (UBACyT B016 and UBACyT 2013-2016 Nº 20020120100244), CONICET (PIP 11420090100303), Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (#SAF2011-29864), “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” (RETICS: #RD06/0001/0001, #RD06/0001/1004), Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (PNSD #2009/026), the Catalan Government (SGR2009-00131), and the ICREA Foundation (ICREA Academia-2008). Andrés P. Varani is a doctoral fellow of the University of Buenos Aires (677/10). The organizations have no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed. The authors declare they have no a financial relationship with the organizations that supported the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Graciela N. Balerio.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Varani, A.P., Aso, E., Moutinho, L.M. et al. Attenuation by baclofen of nicotine rewarding properties and nicotine withdrawal manifestations. Psychopharmacology 231, 3031–3040 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3469-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3469-6

Keywords

Navigation