Resumo

VENEBRA-MUNOZ, A; CORONA-MORALES, A  e  GARCIA-GARCIA, F. Effect of the enriched environment on nicotine consumption in the wistar rat. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.1, pp.97-102. ISSN 0186-2979.

In mammals, enriched environment (EE) conditions, as well as a high level of education, the complexity of the work environment or the nature of leisure activities in humans, seem to protect against age-related cognitive decline and dementia. In addition, it has been shown that rats kept in an EE self-administer a lower amount of amphetamines than those raised in isolated conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an EE on nicotine consumption in rats. Male Wistar rats, 21 days old, were divided into two groups: Control Group (GC), the rats were kept under standard lab conditions for 81 days. Enrichment Group (GE), the rats were kept in an EE for 81 days (8 animals in 75x60x60 cm boxes, with a variety of objects such as: tubes, toys and materials for burrows). On day 61 animals were exposed to nicotine (0.006%) for three weeks. The method used was the two-bottle free-choice where the animals choose freely between water and water+nicotine. The rats of the GE consumed less nicotine per day during the three week trial than the rats of the GC: First week [GE, 0.42 ± 0.09 mg kg-1 d-¹ vs. GC, 0.70 ± 0.10 mg kg-¹ d-¹; t = -2.3, p < 0.05), Second week [GE, 0.22 ± 0.04 mg/kg/d vs. GC, 0.49 ± 0.08 mg kg-1 d-¹; t = -3.3, p < 0.01), Third week [GE, 0.10 ± 0.01 mg kg-1 d-¹ vs. GC, 0.43 ± 0.04 mg kg-1 d-¹, t = -6.8, p < 0.01). The results suggest a possible protective effect of the enriched environment on the development of nicotine addiction.

Palavras-chave : Addiction; dopaminergic system; brain development.

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