Pharmacological modulation of farnesyltransferase subtype I attenuates mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome in mice

Behav Pharmacol. 2013 Dec;24(8):668-77. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000009.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of FTI-276 trifluoroacetate, a selective inhibitor of subtype I, on the development of the mecamylamine-induced nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Mice were administered nicotine (2.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously) four times daily for 7 days. To precipitate nicotine withdrawal, mice were administered one injection of mecamylamine (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 1 h after the last nicotine injection on the test day (day 8). Behavioral observations were made for a period of 30 min immediately after mecamylamine treatment. FTI-276 trifluoroacetate treatment markedly and dose-dependently attenuated the precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome, measured by a composite withdrawal severity score, jumping frequency, hyperalgesia in the tail flick test, and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze test. The results suggest that FTI-276 trifluoroacetate can inhibit the development of a precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome, and thus that farnesyltransferase subtype I may be a viable pharmacological target to tackle the problem of nicotine addiction.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Farnesyltranstransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Male
  • Mecamylamine / adverse effects*
  • Methionine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methionine / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Nicotine / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Nicotinic Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / enzymology*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / psychology

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • FTI 276
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Nicotinic Antagonists
  • Mecamylamine
  • Nicotine
  • Methionine
  • Farnesyltranstransferase