sedatives and nicotine

von bayer 1864

first synthesised barbituric acid

brady and lamb 1987

barbiturates are readily self-administered by animal, though they prefer fast acting ones

hanson and campbell 1967

barbiturates enhance responding previously suppressed by punishment (anxiolytic effect)

low et al

anxiolytic effects of BZ mediated by alpha2 subunits of GABA receptors largely in the limbic system

allosteric modulator

substance that binds to a site on the receptor distinct from the active site

tan et al 2010

BZs may be rewarding because they cause disinhibition of interneurons acting on DA neurons, resulting in increased DA activity

Twyman et al 1989

BZs increase frequency of channel opening, barbiturates increase duration of channel opening

berridge et al 2010

inhaled nicotine in cigarettes hits the brain in about 7 seconds

caggiula et al 2001

nicotine self administration in animals is strongly controlled by cues

villegier et al

MAOIs facilitate nicotine self administration and sensitisation

cohen et al 2012

nicotine intake is robustly escalated with extended access to self-administration and intermittent abstinence

corrigall et al

destruction of DA terminals in the NAcc results in reduced lever-pressing for nicotine

maskos et al 2005

knockout of beta2 nAChRs results in failure to selfadministrate, but restoration of these in just the VTA is sufficient to bring it back