Featured Publications
Pharmacological modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a mouse model of mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal
Jackson A, Papke RL, Damaj MI. Pharmacological modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a mouse model of mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal. Psychopharmacology 2018, 235: 1897-1905. PMID: 29549391, PMCID: PMC6015775, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4879-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive allosteric modulatorsΑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorMecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawalNicotine withdrawal behaviorsNicotine withdrawalNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsSomatic signsPharmacological modulationNon-selective nAChR antagonist mecamylamineAcetylcholine receptorsNicotine withdrawal-induced hyperalgesiaWithdrawal-induced hyperalgesiaDose-related fashionNicotine withdrawal signsNAChR antagonist mecamylamineAnxiety-like behaviorAntagonist mecamylamineWithdrawal signsPreclinical dataNicotine rewardΑ7 nAChRsAgonist PNU282987Mouse modelWithdrawal behaviorAllosteric modulators
2022
Genotypic Differences in the Effects of Menthol on Nicotine Intake and Preference in Mice
Akinola LS, Rahman Y, Ondo O, Gonzales J, Bagdas D, Jackson A, Davidson-Wert N, Damaj MI. Genotypic Differences in the Effects of Menthol on Nicotine Intake and Preference in Mice. Frontiers In Neuroscience 2022, 16: 905330. PMID: 35769694, PMCID: PMC9234577, DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.905330.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOral nicotine consumptionEffect of mentholD2J miceMenthol effectsNicotine consumptionΑ7 nAChRsDifferential effectsTwo-bottle choiceTAAR1 geneOral aversionC57BL/6J miceNicotine rewardSystemic administrationNicotine intakeDBA/2J miceB6J micePharmacological responseNicotine addictionGenotype-specific mechanismsNicotine concentrationsMiceMouse strainsBasal preferenceGenetic factorsNicotine
2019
Impact of modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on nicotine reward in the mouse conditioned place preference test
Jackson A, Alkhlaif Y, Papke RL, Brunzell DH, Damaj MI. Impact of modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on nicotine reward in the mouse conditioned place preference test. Psychopharmacology 2019, 236: 3593-3599. PMID: 31302720, PMCID: PMC6895411, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05331-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive allosteric modulatorsΑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorNicotine rewardNicotine CPPNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsΑ7 nAChRsAgonist PNU282987Acetylcholine receptorsPlace preference testMorphine CPPPharmacological modulationPharmacological agentsCPP paradigmPlace preferenceAllosteric modulatorsPNU282987MethodsThe effectsΑ7Beneficial effectsMiceSilent agonistPNU120596ObjectivesThis studyNS1738NS6740The α7 nicotinic receptor silent agonist R-47 prevents and reverses paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice without tolerance or altering nicotine reward and withdrawal
Toma W, Kyte SL, Bagdas D, Jackson A, Meade JA, Rahman F, Chen ZJ, Del Fabbro E, Cantwell L, Kulkarni A, Thakur GA, Papke RL, Bigbee JW, Gewirtz DA, Damaj MI. The α7 nicotinic receptor silent agonist R-47 prevents and reverses paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice without tolerance or altering nicotine reward and withdrawal. Experimental Neurology 2019, 320: 113010. PMID: 31299179, PMCID: PMC6708482, DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyPeripheral neuropathyNicotine rewardPaclitaxel treatmentRewarding effectsTreatment of CIPNPaclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivityTumor-bearing NSG micePaclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathyNon-small cell lung cancer cell linesCell lung cancer cell linesA549 non-small cell lung cancer cell lineMecamylamine-precipitated withdrawalAntitumor activityIntraepidermal nerve fibersLung cancer cell linesLung tumor growthNSCLC cell viabilityTumor-bearing miceIntrinsic rewarding effectsPlace preference testCancer cell linesConditioned place preference testMechanical hypersensitivityAgonist RThe β3 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is required for nicotine withdrawal-induced affective but not physical signs or nicotine reward in mice
Jackson AB, Toma W, Contreras KM, Alkhlaif Y, Damaj MI. The β3 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is required for nicotine withdrawal-induced affective but not physical signs or nicotine reward in mice. Pharmacology Biochemistry And Behavior 2019, 183: 1-5. PMID: 31145916, PMCID: PMC7197262, DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.05.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNicotine withdrawal signsWithdrawal signsNicotine rewardNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsWT miceNicotine dependenceAcetylcholine receptorsNicotine dependence behaviorsNicotine-dependent miceAffective nicotine withdrawal signsΒ3 subunitTobacco use disorderNicotine-induced CPPSimilar somatic symptomsPlace preference testNew molecular targetsAffective withdrawal signsAddictive componentSpontaneous withdrawalWithdrawal studyKO miceFemale miceHealth burdenPhysical signsUse disorders
2018
New insights on the effects of varenicline on nicotine reward, withdrawal and hyperalgesia in mice
Bagdas D, Alkhlaif Y, Jackson A, Carroll FI, Ditre JW, Damaj MI. New insights on the effects of varenicline on nicotine reward, withdrawal and hyperalgesia in mice. Neuropharmacology 2018, 138: 72-79. PMID: 29860196, PMCID: PMC6054891, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffects of vareniclineNicotine withdrawal signsNicotine rewardΑ5 nAChRWithdrawal signsHigh doseKnockout miceΒ2-nAChRsNicotine withdrawal-induced hyperalgesiaAdministration of vareniclineWithdrawal-induced hyperalgesiaΑ7 knockout miceDose-related mannerNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsΑ5 knockout micePlace preference testVarenicline doseCessation treatmentNicotine withdrawalSomatic signsVareniclineΑ7 nAChRsMouse modelCPP testNicotinic subtypesN-Oleoyl-glycine reduces nicotine reward and withdrawal in mice
Donvito G, Piscitelli F, Muldoon P, Jackson A, Vitale RM, D'Aniello E, Giordano C, Ignatowska-Jankowska BM, Mustafa MA, Guida F, Petrie GN, Parker L, Smoum R, Sim-Selley L, Maione S, Lichtman AH, Damaj MI, Di Marzo V, Mechoulam R. N-Oleoyl-glycine reduces nicotine reward and withdrawal in mice. Neuropharmacology 2018, 148: 320-331. PMID: 29567093, PMCID: PMC6408981, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.03.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTraumatic brain injuryNicotine-dependent miceNicotine addictionNicotine rewardInsular cortexWithdrawal responseNicotine CPPExperimental traumatic brain injuryPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alphaProliferator-activated receptor alphaPlace preference paradigmN-oleoyl glycineTobacco smokingMorphine CPPCigarette smokersIntraperitoneal administrationAntagonist GW6471Brain damageBrain injuryOlGlySystemic administrationRewarding effectsReceptor alphaMicePreference paradigm
2017
In vivo interactions between α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α: Implication for nicotine dependence
Jackson A, Bagdas D, Muldoon PP, Lichtman AH, Carroll FI, Greenwald M, Miles MF, Damaj MI. In vivo interactions between α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α: Implication for nicotine dependence. Neuropharmacology 2017, 118: 38-45. PMID: 28279662, PMCID: PMC5410388, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine ReceptorAnesthetics, LocalAnimalsBenzamidesBridged Bicyclo CompoundsCocaineConditioning, OperantDisease Models, AnimalFenofibrateHypolipidemic AgentsMaleMiceMice, Inbred ICRNicotineNicotinic AgonistsOxazolesPPAR alphaPyrimidinesSelf AdministrationSubstance Withdrawal SyndromeTobacco Use DisorderTyrosineConceptsNicotine dependenceNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsNicotine rewardΑ7 nAChRsNicotine CPPWY-14643Acetylcholine receptorsRewarding propertiesNuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorsΑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorVentral tegmental area dopamine cellsEffect of α7Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorNicotine withdrawal signsSmoking cessation therapyChronic tobacco useCurrent smoking cessation therapiesPPARα antagonist GW6471Main addictive componentPPARα-dependent mannerProliferator-activated receptorNicotine rewarding propertiesPlace preference testHomomeric α7 nAChRsSelf-administration model
2015
N-acetylcysteine decreased nicotine reward-like properties and withdrawal in mice
Bowers M, Jackson A, Maldoon P, Damaj M. N-acetylcysteine decreased nicotine reward-like properties and withdrawal in mice. Psychopharmacology 2015, 233: 995-1003. PMID: 26676982, PMCID: PMC4819399, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4179-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnxiety-like behaviorN-acetylcysteineContinuous nicotineNicotine place conditioningSaline-treated miceNicotine-treated miceMale ICR miceSomatic withdrawal signsHigh clinical utilityPlace aversion paradigmPlace preference paradigmReward-like propertiesN-acetylcysteine pretreatmentSpontaneous withdrawalExtrasynaptic glutamateWithdrawal signsICR miceNicotine rewardSmoking ratesSomatic signsClinical utilityNicotine dependenceFood CPPNicotine CPPObjectivesThe aimIn Vitro and in Vivo Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Properties of (+)- and (−)-Pyrido[3,4]homotropane [(+)- and (−)-PHT]: (+)-PHT Is a Potent and Selective Full Agonist at α6β2 Containing Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
Carroll FI, Navarro H, Mascarella SW, Castro AH, Luetje CW, Wageman CR, Marks MJ, Jackson A, Damaj MI. In Vitro and in Vivo Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Properties of (+)- and (−)-Pyrido[3,4]homotropane [(+)- and (−)-PHT]: (+)-PHT Is a Potent and Selective Full Agonist at α6β2 Containing Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 2015, 6: 920-926. PMID: 25891987, PMCID: PMC5589077, DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine ReceptorAnimalsConditioning, PsychologicalCorpus StriatumDopamineDose-Response Relationship, DrugMaleMice, Inbred ICRMolecular StructureNeuronsNicotinic AgonistsNicotinic AntagonistsPyridinesRatsReceptors, NicotinicSpatial BehaviorSynaptosomesTropanesXenopus laevisConceptsNicotinic antagonistsNeuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptorsLow efficacy partial agonistSelective full agonistHot plate testNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsPlace preference studiesNicotine rewardAntinociceptive activityΑ3β4 nAChRsΑ7 nAChRsElectrophysiological studiesΑ4β2 nAChRsAcetylcholine receptorsAgonist activityPartial agonistFull agonistNAChRsFull agonismPartial agonismAntagonistΑ4β2MiceReceptor propertiesHigh potency