The Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 on Nicotine Intake in a Nicotine-Preferring Rat Line
Project no. 23371 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2021
Summary
<p>Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is a liver-derived hormone. Sugar and ethanol intake triggers FGF21 production/secretion. FGF21 suppresses sugar and ethanol consumption. However, effects of FGF21 on nicotine consumption are not yet known. Aims of this study are demonstrating the effects of FGF21 on nicotine consumption and the effects of oral nicotine administration on blood FGF21 levels.</p><p>Two experiments were conducted using rats from Sprague-Dawley (control) strain and a nicotine-preferring rat line (P-rats) (n=8–10/group). In Experiment I, all animals received nicotine in drinking water for 4 weeks. During this period, animals were injected with either 0.3 mg/kg FGF21 or saline (S). Nicotine consumption was measured in 4 groups (S-treated controls, FGF21-treated controls, S-treated P-rats, FGF21-treated P-rats). In Experiment II, animals were given either only drinking water or nicotine in drinking water for 6 weeks. Nicotine consumption was measured in 4 groups (water-treated controls, nicotine-treated controls, water-treated P-rats, nicotine-treated P-rats). At the end of sixth week, blood FGF21 levels were measured using ELISA method. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, post-hoc</p><p>Tukey, and t-tests.</p><p>In both experiments, nicotine consumption in P-rats was higher than in controls. In the first experiment, chronic FGF21 injections had no significant effect on four-week nicotine consumption in either control or P-rats. In the second experiment, chronic nicotine consumption increased blood FGF21 levels in P-rats, while having no effect in controls. The increase in blood FGF21 observed in P-rats induced by nicotine consumption may represent a homeostatic mechanism attempting to normalize the reward circuit activated by nicotine.</p>