Investigating the effects of neurokinin antagonists on reducing nicotine consumption

has surged with adolescents and adults. Very much like other tobacco products, e-cigarettes are very addictive because they contain nicotine. Nicotine use in adolescence is an issue because it affects brain development and increases the risk of addiction to other drugs. To combat this epidemic there are FDA approved nicotine cessation aids, however they are not effective in all individuals. One promising drug target is blockade of neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) to reduce nicotine consumption. Evidence exists that NK1Rs have the potential to alter nicotine consumption. NK1Rs antagonism modulates physical signs of nicotine withdrawal and can alter nicotineinduced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. My project is focused on testing the hypothesis that selective blockade of NK1Rs will reduce nicotine consumption in nicotine dependent mice. We will use the two-bottle choice paradigm to establish nicotine dependence and measure voluntary consumption of either a nicotine-containing solution or control solution. Mice will then be treated with the NKR antagonist L-732,138 to evaluate if NKR1s will reduce the consumption of nicotine. Our study will assess the potential of NK1Rs antagonism to be used as a new method to treat nicotine addiction.https://digitalcommons.xula.edu/build_xula/1008/thumbnail.jp