Caffeine and nicotine: Differential effects on ambulation, rearing and wheelrunning

Male Sprague Dawley rats were tested for open field ambulation and rearing, and for wheelrunning, following repeated injections of either caffeine or nicotine, given according to a Latin Square design. Caffeine enhanced ambulation and rearing at 5 and 15 mg/kg, IP, and increased wheelrunning with 15 and 45 mg/kg. Nicotine (0.63 mg/kg) also enhanced ambulation, but not rearing, and depressed wheelrunning during the first 20 min of testing. Caffeine's enhancement of wheelrunning was not significant during the first two drug administrations. Results suggest that caffeine and nicotine affect activity via different neuropharmacological mechanisms. Previous experience with these drugs may modulate animals' reactivity to them.

[1]  H. Tilson,et al.  Prior drug experience and effects of amphetamine on schedule controlled behavior. , 1973, Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior.

[2]  A. Armitage,et al.  EFFECTS OF NICOTINE UPON THE FREE OPERANT BEHAVIOR OF RATS AND SPONTANEOUS MOTOR ACTIVITY OF MICE , 1967 .

[3]  P. Mitznegg,et al.  The influence of caffeine and theobromine on locomotive activity and the brain cGMP/cAMP ratio in white mice. , 1977, Biochemical pharmacology.

[4]  P. Clarke,et al.  The effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non‐tolerant and tolerant rats , 1983, British journal of pharmacology.

[5]  H. Enesco,et al.  The effect of RNA, uric acid and caffein on conditioning and activity in rats. , 1968, Journal of Psychiatric Research.

[6]  S. Snyder,et al.  Adenosine receptors and the actions of methylxanthines , 1981, Trends in Neurosciences.

[7]  P. Russell,et al.  Relationships between exploratory behaviour and fear: a review. , 1973, British journal of psychology.

[8]  C. Meliska,et al.  Effects of nicotine on spontaneous locomotor activity in rats having high and low basal activity levels , 1974 .

[9]  A. Trevor,et al.  Differential effects of ketamine on schedule-controlled responding and motility , 1978, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

[10]  A. Marriott.  The effects of amphetamine, caffeine and methylphenidate on the locomotor activity of rats in an unfamiliar environment. , 1968, International journal of neuropharmacology.

[11]  P. Clarke,et al.  Characterization of the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine in tolerant rats , 1983, British journal of pharmacology.

[12]  M. Gupta,et al.  A psycho-pharmacological analysis of behaviour in rats. , 1971, Japanese journal of pharmacology.

[13]  W. I. Welker,et al.  “Free” versus “Forced” Exploration of a Novel Situation by Rats , 1957 .

[14]  A. Oliverio,et al.  ACTION OF NICOTINE ON SPONTANEOUS AND ACQUIRED BEHAVIOR IN RATS AND MICE * , 1967 .

[15]  R. Hughes,et al.  Effects of caffeine, methamphetamine and methylphenidate on reactions to novelty and activity in rats , 1976, Neuropharmacology.

[16]  M. Wayner,et al.  Effects of acute and chronic administration of caffeine on schedule dependent and schedule induced behavior , 1976, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

[17]  J. Stephenson,et al.  The occurrence of tolerance to a central depressant effect of nicotine , 1972, British journal of pharmacology.

[18]  J. Adams,et al.  Monoamine synthesis and caffeine-induced locomotor activity , 1978, Neuropharmacology.

[19]  Welker Wi,et al.  Escape, exploratory, and food-seeking responses of rats in a novel situation. , 1959 .