Behavioral Effects of Enrichment and Nicotine in Female Sprague Dawley Rats

摘要

Three experiments examined effects of environmental enrichment and nicotine on body weight, food consumption, and activity in 52 female Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were housed in physically, socially, or super (social and physical) enriched or non-enriched environments. Half the animals received nicotine for 14 days. Rats in the super-enriched group had: attenuated body weight gain, increased home cage activity, and decreased open-field locomotor activity. Enrichment did not appear to affect voluntary exercise. Rats in the nicotine group, compared with the saline group, had decreased body weight in all housing conditions and increased voluntary exercise only in the physically- enriched environment. Overall, the cessation of nicotine increased body weight and food consumption. These findings and their implications for women's health are discussed.