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The Journal of Neuroscience, January 18, 2006, 26(3):723-730; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4542-05.2006

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Primary Reinforcing Effects of Nicotine Are Triggered from Multiple Regions Both Inside and Outside the Ventral Tegmental Area

Satoshi Ikemoto, Mei Qin, and Zhong-Hua Liu

Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, Maryland 21224

Nicotine is thought to be the key substance responsible for tobacco-smoking habits and appears to trigger reinforcement via the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Recently, multiple anatomical substrates for drug reinforcement have been identified in the vicinity of the ventral midbrain. In addition to the posterior portion of the VTA, the central linear nucleus raphé and the supramammillary nucleus of the posterior hypothalamus mediate drug reinforcement. Using intracranial self-administration procedures, we examined whether these regions mediate the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Rats learned to lever press for self-administration of nicotine into the posterior VTA, central linear nucleus, and supramammillary nucleus, suggesting a reinforcing action of nicotine in these regions. The rats did not self-administer nicotine into surrounding regions including the anterior VTA, substantia nigra, the region just dorsal to the posterior VTA, interpeduncular nucleus, or medial mammillary nucleus. The reinforcing effects of nicotine into the three brain regions were further confirmed by a two-lever discrimination procedure, in which rats learned to selectively respond between active and inactive levers. The reinforcing effects of nicotine administration into the posterior VTA, central linear nucleus, and supramammillary nucleus were blocked by coadministration of the nicotine receptor antagonist mecamylamine. The reinforcing effects of nicotine into the posterior VTA or central linear nucleus were attenuated by coadministration of the D₂ receptor agonist quinpirole. These findings demonstrate that nicotine reinforcement involves multiple regions both inside and outside the VTA.

Key words: nicotinic cholinergic receptor; supramammillary nucleus; central linear nucleus raphé; caudal linear nucleus raphé; reward; intracranial self-administration

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Received Oct 24, 2005; revised November 19, 2005; accepted November 20, 2005.

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