Abstract
The present experiment examined effects of nicotine on body weight of male and female rats when Oreo cookies, potato chips, laboratory chow, and water were available. Body weight and eating behavior were measured for 17-day periods before, during, and after nicotine or saline administration. There was an inverse relationship between nicotine and body weight. These effects were paralleled by changes in consumption of sweet foods. There were no effects of nicotine on salty or bland food consumption. Excessive gains in body weight after cessation of nicotine administration were greater for females than for males.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Garcia J, McGowan BK, Ervin FR, Koelling RA (1968) Cues: their relative effectiveness as a function of the reinforcer. Science 160:794–795
Grunberg NE (1982) The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoking on food consumption and taste preferences. Addict Behav 7:317–331
Grunberg NE (1986) Behavioral and biological factors in the relationship between tobacco use and body weight. In: Katkin ES, Manuck SB (eds) Advances in behavioral medicine, vol. 2. JAI Press, Greenwich, Connecticut, pp 97–129
Grunberg NE, Morse DE (1984) Cigarette smoking and food consumption in the United States. J Appl Soc Psychol 14:310–317
Grunberg NE, Bowen DJ, Morse DE (1984) Effects of nicotine on body weight and food consumption in rats. Psychopharmacology 83:93–98
Grunberg NE, Bowen DJ, Maycock VA, Nespor SM (1985) The importance of sweet taste and caloric content in the effects of nicotine on specific food consumption. Psychopharmacology 87:198–203
Grunberg Ne, Bowen DJ, Winders SE (1986) Effects of nicotine on body weight and food consumption in female rats. Psychopharmacology 90:101–105
Grunberg NE, Winders SE, Popp KA (1987) Sex differences in nicotine's effects on consummatory behavior and body weight in rats. Psychopharmacology 91:221–225
Handelman G, Ravizza R, Ray WJ (1980) Social dominance determines estrous entrainment among female hamsters. Horm Behav 14:107–115
Theeuwes F, Yum SI (1977) Principles of the design and operation of generic osmotic pumps for the delivery of semisolid or liquid drug formulations. Ann Biomed Eng 4:343–353
Wack J, Rodin J (1982) Smoking and its effects on body weight and the system of caloric regulation. Am J Clin Nutr 35:366–380
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grunberg, N.E., Popp, K.A. & Winders, S.E. Effects of nicotine on body weight in rats with access to “Junk” foods. Psychopharmacology 94, 536–539 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212851
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212851