Nicotine Self-administration Is Not Increased in the Methylazoxymethanol Acetate Rodent Model of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) smoke at a rate of 4-5 times higher than the general population, contributing to negative health consequences in this group. One possible explanation for this increased smoking is that individuals with SCZ find nicotine (NIC) more reinforcing. However, data supporting this possibility are limited.

Methods: The present experiments examined self-administration of NIC, alone or in combination with other reinforcers, across a range of doses in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) rodent model of SCZ.

Results: MAM and control animals did not differ in NIC self-administration across a range of doses and schedules of reinforcement, in both standard 1-hour self-administration sessions and 23-hour extended access sessions. However, MAM animals responded less for sucrose or reinforcing visual stimuli alone or when paired with NIC.

Conclusions: To the extent that MAM-treated rats are a valid model of SCZ, these results suggest that increased NIC reinforcement does not account for increased smoking in SCZ patients.

Implications: This study is the first to utilize nicotine self-administration, the gold standard for studying nicotine reinforcement, in the methylazoxymethanol acetate model of schizophrenia, which is arguably the most comprehensive animal model of the disease currently available. Our assessment found no evidence of increased nicotine reinforcement in methylazoxymethanol acetate animals, suggesting that increased reinforcement may not perpetuate increased smoking in schizophrenia patients.