Full-gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol augments nicotine self-administration by altering ventral tegmental dopaminergic function due to NMDA receptors in adolescent rats.

In adult rats, we have shown full-gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol (Nic + EtOH) augmented nicotine self-administration (SA) (increased nicotine intake) compared to pair-fed (PF) offspring. Therefore, we hypothesized that full-gestational exposure to Nic + EtOH disrupts control of dopaminergic (DA) circuitry by ventral tegmental area (VTA) NMDA receptors, augmenting nicotine SA and DA release in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of adolescents. Both NAcc DA and VTA glutamate release were hyper-responsive to intra-VTA NMDA in Nic + EtOH offspring versus PF (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Similarly, DA release was more responsive to i.v. nicotine in Nic + EtOH offspring (p = 0.02). Local DL-2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid sodium salt (AP5) (NMDA receptor antagonist) infusion into the VTA inhibited nicotine-stimulated DA release in Nic + EtOH and PF offspring. Nicotine SA was augmented in adolescent Nic + EtOH versus PF offspring (p = 0.000001). Daily VTA microinjections of AP5 reduced nicotine SA by Nic + EtOH offspring, without affecting PF (p = 0.000032). Indeed, nicotine SA in Nic + EtOH offspring receiving AP5 was not different from PF offspring. Both VTA mRNA transcripts and NMDA receptor subunit proteins were not altered in Nic + EtOH offspring. In summary, adolescent offspring exposed to gestational Nic + EtOH show markedly increased vulnerability to become dependent on nicotine. This reflects the enhanced function of a subpopulation of VTA NMDA receptors that confer greater nicotine-induced DA release in NAcc. We hypothesized that concurrent gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol would disrupt the control of VTA dopaminergic circuitry by NMDA receptors. Resulting in the augmented nicotine self-administration (SA) in adolescent offspring.

Roguski EE ，Sharp BM ，Chen H ，Matta SG ... -  《-》

Systemic nicotine stimulates dopamine release in nucleus accumbens: re-evaluation of the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the ventral tegmental area.

Fu Y ，Matta SG ，Gao W ，Brower VG ，Sharp BM ... -  《JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS》

Nicotine-induced Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat: role of nicotinic and NMDA receptors in the ventral tegmental area.

We have previously shown that the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens can be attenuated by local administration into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), of antagonists at nicotinic and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), but not alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors. In the present study, we investigated the role of nicotinic and NMDA receptors in the VTA for the expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens and in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat after acute nicotine administration. Systemically administered nicotine increased FLI in both the mPFC and the nucleus accumbens when compared to saline controls, although this effect was more pronounced, and reached statistical significance in the nucleus accumbens, especially in the core region. When mecamylamine was delivered by reverse dialysis into the VTA, the systemic nicotine-induced FLI was significantly attenuated in the nucleus accumbens. Similarly, the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), infused locally in the VTA, also antagonized the nicotine-induced FLI in the nucleus accumbens. Neither mecamylamine nor AP-5 alone affected basal FLI levels in any of the structures studied. Local administration of nicotine in the VTA increased FLI in the nucleus accumbens but not in the mPFC. Since the nicotine-induced FLI is probably due to an increased dopamine release in both the nucleus accumbens and the mPFC, we conclude that FLI in the nucleus accumbens is mediated, to a large extent, through the activation of dopamine neurons via nicotinic and NMDA receptors in the VTA, whereas the nicotine-induced FLI in the mPFC is subjected to a differential control mechanism, tentatively involving nicotinic receptors at the terminal level of the mPFC-projecting dopamine neurons.

Schilström B ，De Villiers S ，Malmerfelt A ，Svensson TH ，Nomikos GG ... -  《SYNAPSE》

Systemic nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens is regulated by nicotinic receptors in the ventral tegmental area.

Nisell M ，Nomikos GG ，Svensson TH 《SYNAPSE》

NMDA receptors in nucleus accumbens modulate stress-induced dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area.

Doherty MD ，Gratton A 《-》