Adolescent nicotine potentiates the inhibitory effect of raclopride, a D2R antagonist, on phencyclidine-sensitized psychotic-like behavior in mice.
Toxicology and applied pharmacology December 1, 2022 Ana Carolina Dutra-Tavares, Anais Bandeira-Martins, Juliana O Silva et al.
In adolescent mice, nicotine exposure did not worsen and may have even ameliorated psychotic-like behavior induced by phencyclidine, a model of psychosis. The antipsychotic drug raclopride prevented the development of this behavior, and nicotine temporarily boosted raclopride's inhibitory effect. Nicotine history shortened the expression of sensitized behavior after withdrawal. The findings suggest that nicotine may transiently improve the efficacy of antipsychotic medication through mechanisms involving dopamine D2 receptors.