Effects of Nicotine Administration and Stress on Sensory-Gating Depend on Rat Strain and Sex
Abstract
The present experiments investigated effects of nicotine administration, nicotine cessation, and stress (environmental and physical) on the acoustic startle reflex (ASR)and pre-pulse inhibition (ppn of the ASR (measures of sensory-gating) in males and females of two rat strains. Experiment 1 examined effects of nicotine on 192 Long-Evans rats (a non-albino strain) in individual or crowded housing. For males, nicotine increased startle and PPI in the crowded condition but decreased these responses in the individually-housed condition. For females, nicotine reduced ASR and PPI regardless of housing condition. Experiment 2 examined effects of nicotine (0, 6, or 12 mg/kglday) and immobilization (IM) stress on ASR and PPI of male and female Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley (albino) rats (N = 240). Nicotine decreased ASR and PPI responses of Long-Evans subjects. Nicotine enhanced Sprague-Dawley subjects' responses. Stress increased responses of Sprague-Dawley males and Long-Evans females but decreased responses of Sprague-Dawley females and Long-Evans males.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- AD1011820
Entities
People
- Martha M. Faraday
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences