Nicotinic Receptor Desensitization to Reduce Drug Self-Administration

Georgetown University, Washington DC

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Abstract

Nicotine intake constitutes a principal mechanism for tobacco addiction. Adequate treatment of smoking addiction remains problematic. Part of the problem with devising effective treatment is a poor understanding of the pharmacologic aspects of nicotine that underlie addiction. In addition to activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, nicotine also causes pronounced receptor desensitization. It is not currently known how much of each of nicotine's two actions at the receptor level - stimulation vs. desensitization, contribute to its particular behavioral effects, including reinforcement and addiction. Sazetidine-A is a novel compound that provides potent desensitization of a4B2 nicotinic receptors. Our preliminary studies have shown the promise of sazetidine-A. We have shown that Sazetidine-A significantly reduces nicotine self-administration both with acute and chronic administration. The proposed neurobehavioral studies will broaden the sazetidine-A characterization, determining the dose and time-effect function at which the maximum efficacy in reducing extended access nicotine self-administration is reached and the doses at which side effects are seen. Sex-differences in response will be determined in all phases of the study. Sazetidine-A efficacy in reducing relapse to nicotine self-administration with challenges of nicotine priming, conditioned cues and stress will be determined. Newly developed compounds in the Sazetidine class of nicotinic desensitizing agents will be screened for blockade of nicotine-induced sensitization of locomotor hyperactivity. Those compounds and doses effective in this screen will be tested for efficacy in significantly reducing nicotine self-administration and helping to prevent relapse. The intended beneficial outcome of this research is to determine the most effective way to use nicotinic desensitizing agents to reduce dependence on tobacco and facilitate cessation.