Summary
Introduction:
This text describes a study examining the impact of nicotine formulations on reinforcement-related behaviors in a mouse model of vapor self-administration. The study compares the effects of nicotine-salt and nicotine-freebase formulations on e-Vape® self-administration (EVSa) behavior and plasma cotinine levels in male and female mice.
Key Points:
* The study used adult C57/BL6J mice and assigned them to vaping e-liquids containing either nicotine-salt or nicotine-freebase.
* Mice were escalated on a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) schedule in daily 2 hour sessions and then transitioned to a FR3 schedule to examine reinforcement-related behaviors.
* The results showed that mice assigned nicotine-salt exhibited increased EVSa on a FR3 schedule compared to nicotine-freebase.
* additionally, mice assigned nicotine-salt exhibited higher plasma cotinine concentrations following delivery-controlled passive-inhalation sessions.
* The study suggests that nicotine-salt formulations may contribute to greater reinforcement-related behavior and highlights the need for further investigations regarding nicotine formulation in ENDS.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of considering nicotine formulation as a factor in the potential reinforcing effects of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The findings suggest that nicotine-salt formulations may be more reinforcing than nicotine-freebase formulations, as evidenced by increased EVSa behavior and higher plasma cotinine levels in mice assigned to nicotine-salt. These results have implications for the regulation and use of ENDS, and highlight the need for further research to better understand the impact of nicotine formulation on reinforcement-related behaviors.
Citation
henderson BJ, Cooper SY. Nicotine formulations impact reinforcement-related behaviors in a mouse model of vapor self-administration. Drug alcohol Depend. 2021;224:108732. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108732
