Abstinence syndrome withdrawal nicotine

The abstinence syndrome, evoked in animals by the withdrawal of nicotine, appears to be similar to that seen following opiate withdrawal (Malin et al. 1992). Furthermore, Malin and co-workers have reported that the abstinence syndrome can be provoked by the administration of the opiate antagonist, naxolone, to nicotine-treated rats (Malin et al. 1993). These results suggest that the abstinence syndrome... 

The question remains, are the nicotine withdrawal phenomena in the rodent models sufficiently aversive to exert a motivational effect This can be tested by whether rodents will avoid an enviromnent associated with precipitated nicotine abstinence syndrome, in comparison with an enviromnent associated only with a saline injection. Significant place aversion conditioned to nicotine withdrawal has been repeatedly observed in rodent models (Balfour 2002 Goktalay et al. 2006 Malin et al. 2006 Suzuki et al. 1996 Watkins et al. 2000). 

It is well established that nicotine stimulation of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is essential to the reinforcing action of nicotine (Balfour 2004 Corrigall and Coen 1991). Considerable evidence suggests that alterations in this pathway may also be essential to the nicotine abstinence syndrome, particularly to its depression-like dimension. During withdrawal from continuous nicotine infusion, rats displayed reduced activity levels and reduced DA content in the striatum... 

The availability of rodent models of nicotine physical dependence and abstinence has made it possible to identify several anatomical regions that play a critical role in these phenomena. In reviewing the evidence, the multidimensional nature of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome should be considered, raising the possibility that different withdrawal signs and symptoms might be attributable to events in different anatomical regions. Table 2 summarizes a number of representative studies. There is some overlap with Table 3 on neurochemical mechanisms, since many studies cited there are studies of regional neurochemistry. 

---