Research articleDifferential behavioral effects of nicotine in adult male and female rats with a history of prenatal methamphetamine exposure

- Prenatal methamphetamine exposure resulted in decreased aversive effects of nicotine in adult male rats but not in adult female rats.
- Prenatal methamphetamine exposure did not influence nicotine-induced locomotor activity in either male or female adult rats.
- Prenatal methamphetamine exposure and gender differentially affected nicotine-induced behaviors such as nicotine-induced conditioned taste aversion and locomotor activity.

The goal of the current study was to assess the effects of prenatal methamphetamine (MA)/saline exposure on nicotine-induced stimulant and aversive effects in both male and female adult rats. The aversive effects of nicotine were assessed using the nicotine-induced conditioned taste aversion model (0.4 mg/kg, base), while the stimulant effects of nicotine were measured by assessing changes in spontaneous locomotor activity after subcutaneous administration of different doses of nicotine (0, 0.1 & 0.4 mg/kg, base). The aversive effects of nicotine were significantly decreased in male, but not in female rats with a history of prenatal MA exposure compared to respective saline controls. No influence of prenatal MA exposure was observed on nicotine-induced increase in locomotor activity in either male or female rats. In conclusion, males with a history of prenatal MA exposure may be more vulnerable to nicotine addiction due to a decrease in nicotine-induced aversive effects.