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Lorcaserin, a 5-HT2C agonist, decreases nicotine self-administration in female rats

Authors :
Joshua E. Johnson
Ann Petro
Corinne Wells
Jed E. Rose
Marty Cauley
Edward D. Levin
Susan Slade
Source :
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. 338(3)
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Lorcaserin, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine(2C) (5-HT(2C)) agonist, has been shown to facilitate weight loss in obese populations. It was assessed for its efficacy in reducing nicotine self-administration in young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The effect of short-term doses (subcutaneous) on nicotine self-administration (0.03 mg/kg per infusion) with a fixed ratio 1 schedule was assessed in 3-h sessions. Short-term lorcaserin doses (0.3125-20 mg/kg) were administered in a counterbalanced order. Significant reduction of nicotine self-administration was achieved with all of the short-term doses in this range. Tests of lorcaserin on locomotor activity detected prominent sedative effects at doses greater than 1.25 mg/kg with more modest transient effects seen at 0.625 to 1.25 mg/kg. Long-term effects of lorcaserin on locomotor activity were tested with repeated injections with 0.625 mg/kg lorcaserin 10 times over 2 weeks. This low lorcaserin dose did not cause an overall change in locomotor activity relative to that of saline-injected controls. Long-term lorcaserin (0.625 mg/kg) significantly reduced nicotine self-administration over a 2-week period of repeated injections. Long-term lorcaserin at this same dose had no significant effects on food self-administration over the same 2-week period of repeated injections. These studies support development of the 5-HT(2C) agonist lorcaserin to aid tobacco smoking cessation.

Details

ISSN :
15210103
Volume :
338
Issue :
3
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....47bc13d9f26257d83fd50197c992cb86