"Genetic studies of nicotine addiction in mice have utilized the oral self-administration model. However, it is unclear if strain differences in nicotine consumption are influenced by variation in bitter taste sensitivity," scientists in the United States report.

"We measured both nicotine consumption and nicotine brief-access licking behavior in several commonly used inbred strains of mice that were previously shown to differ in nicotine consumption. A/J (A), C57BL/6J (B6), and DBA/2J (D2) mice were given a 2-bottle choice test with a single concentration of nicotine (75 mu g/ml; nicotine vs. water). Mice of these strains were also tested with a range of nicotine concentrations (5-400 mu g/ml) using a brief-access test, which measures orosensory response and minimizes postingestive effects. Although B6 mice consumed more 75-mu g/ml nicotine than A or D2 mice in the 2-bottle test, these strains did not differ in level of aversion to nicotine when tested with the brief-access procedure. Strain differences in orosensory response to nicotine were not found; yet, differences emerged during the 2-bottle tests," wrote A.R. Glatt and colleagues, University of Tennessee.

The researchers concluded: "This study provides evidence that variation in intake level of nicotine is likely not due to differences in taste or trigeminal sensitivity but likely due to postingestive factors."

Glatt and colleagues published their study in Chemical Senses (Variation in Nicotine Consumption in Inbred Mice Is Not Linked to Orosensory Ability. Chemical Senses, 2009;34(1):27-35).

For additional information, contact J.D. Boughter, University of Tennessee, Center Health Science, Dept. of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Chemical Senses is: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England.