Effects and consequences of ethanol consumption during the ontogeny of rats with pre-exposure to nicotine in adolescence.

Abstract

Drug addiction is considered a worldwide public health problem. Among the substances of abuse, alcohol and nicotine, licit drugs in Brazil and many other countries, are the most used drugs in the world. Studies show that early experimentation of tobacco and alcohol often occurs in adolescence, and that early initiation of tobacco use is significantly associated with occurrence of ethanol abuse and dependence in adolescence and adulthood. Although the relevance of the topic, there is little information in the preclinical literature on how nicotine alters ethanol consumption and the underlying mechanisms, mainly during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Thus, the aims of this project is investigate: 1) whether nicotine, administration during adolescence increases ethanol seeking behavior and intake in later stages of development, 2) whether the chronic treatment with nicotine is able to promote changes in gene expression in the system dynorphin / kappa opioid receptors, which might influence consumption of ethanol in the later stages of development.