Age is Associated with Altered Locomotor and Hypothermic Response to Acute Nicotine

Cigarette smoking is at an all-time low. However, nicotine consumption has diversified with the introduction of commercial tobacco products that include Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. Nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco and contributes to the addictive properties of tobacco products. Prolonged nicotine exposure induces neural adaptations that promote addiction-related behaviors in an age-dependent manner. Here, we investigated nicotine sensitivity among young adult and middle-aged male mice by comparing initial responses to nicotine tartrate from different suppliers. We observed that all nicotine compounds tested in the present study induced a robust reduction in locomotor activity and body temperature, and nicotine exposure resulted in increased serum cotinine concentration. We observed age-related differences in the magnitude and the time course of nicotine responses for locomotor and hypothermic effects. Reduction in locomotor activity was larger among young adult mice, but the time course of this response was similar for both age groups. Nicotine-induced reduction in body temperature was of a comparable magnitude for both age groups but young adults showed a faster decrease than middle-aged mice. These results suggest that age of exposure is a key factor contributing to nicotine sensitivity and its potential addictive effects. These responses were consistently produced for nicotine tartrate from different sources. Our findings reveal distinct responses between young adults and middle-aged mice, suggesting that age-specific neurobiological mechanisms in nicotine sensitivity continue developing into adulthood. These age-related variations in nicotine response are crucial for developing targeted interventions and understanding the risk factors for nicotine dependence across the lifespan.