Nicotine Reinforcement and Aversion in Young Adult Light Smokers

The proposed study will examine the threshold for nicotine self-administration (NSA) using five different nicotine doses in young adult male and female non-dependent smokers (light and intermittent smokers or LITS). We propose a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that will enroll 195 individuals, targeting a total of 72 completers (36 male and 36 females). In each of the five experimental sessions, smokers will be randomly assigned to one of the five doses of nicotine (0.0125, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/70 kg). The highest dose, 0.2 mg/70 kg, corresponds to nicotine delivered by about one or two puffs of a cigarette. At the beginning of each experimental session, smokers will sample the assigned both the nicotine dose for that experimental session, and the placebo (saline) dose, followed by the opportunity to choose between nicotine and placebo for a total of ten choices over a 150-minute period. The main outcomes will be threshold dose (the minimum dose of nicotine that is self-administered more than placebo) and the slope of dose-response for nicotine self-administration (changes in nicotine self-administration per unit change in nicotine dose). We will also collect measures of nicotine intake (cotinine), nicotine clearance (3-hydroxycotinine (3-HC) / cotinine), and self-report drug effects

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nicotine Addiction
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Nicotine; Drug: Saline

Detailed Description

Aim #1: To assess the threshold reinforcing dose and dose-effect curve for IV NSA at low doses in young adult LITS.

Hypothesis #1A: The threshold reinforcing doses for IV NSA will be between 0.0125 to 0.1 mg/70 kg.

Hypothesis #1B: The dose-effect curve for NSA will differ between males and females with relatively flat curve in female smokers.

Aim #2: To assess the threshold and dose-effect curve for the positive and negative/aversive subjective effects of IV nicotine at low doses and its relationship to nicotine reinforcement.

Hypothesis #2 A: The threshold for the positive effects will be between 0.0125 to 0.1 mg/70 kg, for the negative/aversive effect it will be ≥ 0.1 mg/70 kg.

Hypothesis #2B: Nicotine reinforcement will be positively correlated with the positive and negatively correlated with the negative/aversive subjective effects of IV nicotine.

Exploratory Aims: To examine the influence of nicotine clearance rate on nicotine reinforcement threshold and dose-effect curve.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • West Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06516
      • Department of Veterans Affairs

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria: 1) Female and male smokers, aged 18 to30 years, who have been smoking for at least a year, and a life-time consumption of at least 100 cigarettes; 2) smoke more frequently than once a week and ≤5 cpd; 3) FTND score <3 indicating no or minimal evidence for nicotine dependence; 4) urine cotinine levels >100 ng/mL indicating smoking status and a level <1000 mg/mL consistent with nicotine intake of LITS; 5) not seeking treatment at the time of the study for nicotine dependence; 6) in good health as verified by medical history, screening examination, and screening laboratory tests; 7) for women, not pregnant as determined by pregnancy screening, nor breast feeding, and using acceptable birth control methods.

Exclusion criteria: 1) history of major medical illnesses that the physician investigator deems as contraindicated for the subject to be in the study; 2) requirement of any form of regular psychotropic medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics) or psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for psychiatric disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia in the past 6 months; and 3) current dependence to alcohol or any other recreational or prescription drugs and; 4) daily use of smokeless tobacco products or exclusive daily use of e-cigarettes (non-daily users will be included).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Nicotine; subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the five doses of nicotine (0.0125, 0.025, 0.0.5, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/70 kg or about 0.18, 0.36, 0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 µg/kg). At the beginning of each experimental session, subjects will first sample the assigned nicotine dose and placebo (saline) condition that are randomly labeled as A or B. which may be nicotine or saline. This procedure will allow subjects to sample the nicotine and saline that will be available during that session. In addition, subjective and physiological responses to the sample nicotine dose and saline will be assessed.	Drug: Nicotine; (0.0125, 0.025, 0.0.5, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/70 kg or about 0.18, 0.36, 0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 µg/kg).; Other Names: IV nicotine
Placebo Comparator: Saline; Subjects will have sample A and B, one being nicotine and one being saline. The doses will be blinded from PI, subject and staff. The subject must choose A or B for the next ten choices.	Drug: Saline; 5cc's of saline give at least once.; Other Names: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DEQ - Pleasurable	The Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) ratings subscale that measures the pleasurable effects was used. I The minimum score is zero with the maximum score of a 100millimeters. The higher the score means the more pleasurable.	Up to 10 Minutes
DEQ - Aversive	The DEQ is measured using millimeters. The minimum score is zero with the maximum score of a 100millimeters. rug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) ratings subscale that measures the aversive effects was used. The higher the score means more aversive.	Up to 10 Minutes
DEQ - Stimulatory	The Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) ratings subscale that measures the stimulatory effects was used. DEQ is measured using millimeters. The minimum score is zero with the maximum score of a 100millimeters. The higher the score means more stimulation.	Up to10 Minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• MacLean RR, Eid T, Parida S, Gueorguieva R, DeVito EE, Sofuoglu M. Threshold for the pleasurable effects of nicotine are lower than its reinforcing effects during self-administration. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2023 Feb;31(1):37-45. doi: 10.1037/pha0000556. Epub 2022 Mar 7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 4, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 31, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 7, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): December 20, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 31, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Nicotine; smokers; vitals associated with smoking
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Tobacco Use Disorder; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Cholinergic Agents; Ganglionic Stimulants; Nicotinic Agonists; Cholinergic Agonists; Nicotine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1010007514; 1R01DA042528-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No