Introduction
Abbreviation of a critical mood-regulating region
NASH (nucleus accumbens shell)
What gender of rats were used?
Male
Adolescent nicotine exposure has what effect on D1 receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens shell?
Adolescent nicotine exposure decreases D1 receptor expression
Adolescent nicotine exposure can cause lasting brain _____
damage
Most popular cigarette among U.S. teens
Marlboro Reds
The Nucleus Accumbens Shell is part of what dopamine pathway?
The mesolimbic
3x a day for 10 days
There was a(n) _____ in spontaneous firing for medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell
increase
Study shows reduced ______ oscillations in the NASh after adolescent nicotine exposure
γ-band (gamma)
In 2024, what percent of U.S. middle and high school students reported current use of any tobacco product?
8.1% (CDC)
Chronic nicotine exposure _____ the mesolimbic pathway, producing long-lasting changes in dopamine transmission
sensitizes
What is the name of the test described?
Rats were placed in a cylinder filled 3/4 of the way with water for a 10 mins. Examined included time spent swimming, immobile, and latency to immobility
(Hint: Not just the forced swim test)
Porsolt forced swim test
Depression-like symptom present in adulthood of adolescent smokers operationalized as less of a sucrose preference
anhedonia
Y-band deficits are seen in what mental disorders?
ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, depression, and schizophrenia
Elf bar
Mesolimbic dopamine signaling is essential for nicotine’s _______ and ________ effects
motivational and reinforcing
What type of symptoms does the Open Field test measure for?
Anxiety-like symptoms
Adolescent nicotine exposure increases ____ phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens shell.
GSK-3
Targeting ERK1/2 and Akt-GSK-3 pathways reversed what?
anxiety-like behaviors
Accumbal bursting deficits
High-γ oscillation loss
Between 2020 and 2024, daily nicotine vaping _______ among adolescents (Not just increased)
nearly doubled
Fast-acting antidepressants (e.g., ketamine) increase what, which underscores their importance for mood regulation?
Striatal γ-oscillations
The researchers used stereotaxic device to install what type of device(s) in NASh, used to inject selective MEK1/MEK2 inhibitor, selective glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor, and selective Akt inhibitor?
2 Guide cannulae (implanted bilaterally)
What pathways are chronically hyperactivated in the NAcSh after adolescent nicotine exposure?
ERK1/2 and Akt–GSK-3 pathways
D1R reductions are also found in human patients with what symptoms?
Decreased reward processing and high-γ oscillations
Increased depressive-like behavior
What percent of smokers become dependent during adolescence?
Over 90%