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A groundbreaking new study by researchers in the US suggests that teenagers who smoke could be setting themselves up to become depressed
adults.
Published pre-press as an early on line issue last month in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the research was the work of Florida State
University Psychology Professor Carlos A Bola?±os-Guzm??n and colleagues.
In their background information Bola?±os and colleagues said research has already established a strong link between tobacco consumption and mood
disorders, and while some might say smokers use tobacco to manage their moods, there is also evidence that tobacco consumption induces negative
mood.
For the study, Bola?±os and colleagues used adolescent rats (their neurobiology is similar to that of humans) and showed that giving them nicotine
induced a depression-like state that left them less able to feel pleasure and more sensitive to stress in adulthood. The researchers suggested the same
might be true of humans.
"It is the first one to show that nicotine exposure early in life can have long-term neurobiological consequences evidenced in mood
Buy zithromax pills He also said their research showed that even brief exposure to nicotine raised the risk of mood disorders later in life.
For the study, they injected adolescent rats twice a day with various doses of nicotine or a saline solution (the controls) for 15
days. At various times during and then after exposure finished the rats also underwent tests that examined their responses to stressful circumstances
and the offer of rewards. Separate groups of adult rats received a mid-range dose of nicotine to enable the researchers to rule out age-related
effects.
Nicotine exposure during adolescence, but not adulthood, led to a depression-like state characterised by lower sensitivity to natural reward
(sucrose) and enhanced sensitivity to situations that raised anxiety and stress in later life.
Behavioural characteristics of depression can emerge 1 week after stopping nicotine exposure.
A single day of nicotine exposure during adolescence is enough to trigger a depression-like state in adulthood.
The depression behaviours went back to normal when the rats were given either nicotine or antidepressants (such as fluoxetine or bupropion) in
adulthood.
The adult rats that had not been exposed to nicotine as teenagers did not show the depression-like symptoms, although they underwent tests in parallel
with their teen-nicotine exposed counterparts.
Behaviours characteristic of depression and anxiety included repetitive grooming, less consumption of rewards like the sugary drinks they were
offered, and "freezing" in stressful situations instead of trying to escape them.
"These data suggest that adolescent exposure to nicotine results in a negative emotional state rendering the organism significantly more vulnerable to
"Within this context, our findings, together with others indicating that nicotine exposure during adolescence enhances risk for addiction later in life,
could serve as a potential model of comorbidity," they added.
"Some of the animals in our study were exposed to nicotine once and never saw the drug again," but then it was "surprising to us to discover that a
single day of nicotine exposure could potentially have such long-term negative consequences."
Speculating on the mechanisms that might underlie these findings, Bola?±os said toxic effects in the brain could be responsible: effects which alter the
way that neurotransmitter circuits behave later in life. Perhaps these mechanisms are sensitive at particular stages of development, such as during the
teenage years. The researchers said this should be the focus of new studies.
"Don’t smoke and don’t even try it," said Bola?±os. They need to be made aware of the long term risks they are taking, even from having the occasional
cigarette.
The research was paid for by grants from the state of Florida’s James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the National Institute on
Drug Abuse. Funds also came from a McKnight Fellowship from the Florida Education Fund and Neuroscience Fellowships from Florida State
University.
"Nicotine Exposure During Adolescence Induces a Depression-Like State in Adulthood."
Sergio D I?±iguez, Brandon L Warren, Eric M Parise, Lyonna F Alcantara, Brittney Schuh, Melissa L Maffeo, Zarko Manojlovic and Carlos A Bola?±os
-Guzm??n.
Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication 17 December 2008.
Click here for Abstract.
Sources: Journal Abstract, Florida State University.
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