%0 Journal Article %A K. J. Jackson %A J. M. McIntosh %A D. H. Brunzell %A S. S. Sanjakdar %A M. I. Damaj %T The Role of α6-Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Nicotine Reward and Withdrawal %D 2009 %R 10.1124/jpet.109.155457 %J Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics %P 547-554 %V 331 %N 2 %X The α6 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit is involved in nicotine-stimulated dopamine release in the striatum. It is expressed in brain regions and coexpressed with nAChR subtypes implicated in nicotine dependence behaviors; hence, this subunit may play a role in nicotine dependence. Using the α6-selective antagonist α-conotoxin H9A;L15A (MII[H9A;L15A]), we determined the role of α6* nAChRs in the pharmacological and behavioral effects of nicotine. We measured effects of pretreatment with MII[H9A;L15A] on analgesia, locomotion, and body temperature after a single injection of nicotine. Effects of MII[H9A;L15A] on nicotine reward were measured using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. We further measured physical (somatic signs and hyperalgesia) and affective [anxiety-related behavior and conditioned place aversion (CPA)] nicotine withdrawal behaviors after extended nicotine exposure. Results showed that MII[H9A;L15A] did not block acute nicotine effects on the behaviors measured. Conversely, MII[H9A:l15A] blocked the expression of nicotine CPP, as well as withdrawal-associated CPA and anxiety-related behavior in the elevated plus maze, but not withdrawal-induced somatic signs or hyperalgesia. These results suggest a role for the α6 nAChR subunit in nicotine reward and affective nicotine withdrawal but not acute nicotine-induced or physical withdrawal behaviors. © 2009 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics %U https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/jpet/331/2/547.full.pdf