Effects of Norharmane and Nicotine on the Conditioned Place Preference of Mice

<p> Tobacco smoking in the United States is used by approximately 25% of adults. Many studies using animal models have suggested that nicotine has rewarding properties. Contrastingly, several studies have also found it to be a weakly reinforcing substance at low and high dose levels. Due to this, other tobacco constituents, such as the monoamine oxidase inhibitor norharmane which is found in tobacco leaf and smoke, may be responsible for tobacco addiction by potentiating the rewarding properties of nicotine. Several studies have attempted to observe this phenomenon, however, monoamine oxidase inhibitors that are not found in tobacco leaf or smoke have been used. Thus, the present study utilized a conditioned place preference paradigm to observe whether or not nicotine at dose levels of 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg, and norharmane at dose levels of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, could individually produce place preference, indicating drug seeking behavior of the rewarding properties of each compound. Finally, a combination of nicotine and norharmane were administered together, and the same parameters were observed. A significant place preference for either drug alone, nor in combination, produced significant results. In conclusion, norharmane was not found to potentiate the rewarding properties of nicotine, however the present study was able to provide data on the effects of norharmane in a conditioned place preference paradigm, which have never been observed before.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychological Science

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Galbo, Lindsey

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Adam Prus

• nicotine
• norharmane
• MAOI
• monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• conditioned place preference
• mice
• Animal Studies
• Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/534

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1199