Source Paper
The effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non‐tolerant and tolerant rats
P.B.S. Clarke, R. Kumar
British Journal of Pharmacology • 1983
Source Paper
P.B.S. Clarke, R. Kumar
British Journal of Pharmacology • 1983
1--Rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell cages, for 80 min starting immediately after subcutaneous injection of (-)-nicotine bitartrate or 0.9% w/v NaCl solution (saline). In non-tolerant subjects, nicotine (0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg base) depressed activity and induced ataxia in the first 20 min, but increased activity later in the session; these actions were dose-dependent. 2--Tolerance was studied by comparing rats given nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) every day with control rats given saline instead. Each week, every subject was tested once with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) and once with saline. With daily or even weekly injections of nicotine, the initial depressant action of the drug was replaced by a dose-dependent stimulant action which occurred throughout the session. In these tolerant animals, little ataxia was seen except when a larger dose of 0.8 mg/kg was given. Tolerance to the depressant action of nicotine persisted for at least 3 weeks. 3--In non-tolerant subjects, mecamylamine (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) prevented the initial depressant action of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg). In tolerant rats, the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) was prevented by mecamylamine (0.1, 0.32, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) in a dose-related way; the quaternary ganglion blocker, hexamethonium (0.2, 1.0, 5.0 mg/kg s.c.) had little or no such effect. Neither mecamylamine nor hexamethonium altered activity when given alone. 4--It is suggested that a few treatments with nicotine can unmask a stimulant action of the drug, probably of central origin, which possibly reflects a stimulation of nicotine receptors.
Objective: Measurement of locomotor activity in photocell cages following nicotine or saline injection over an 80-minute period to assess the effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non-tolerant and tolerant rats
This is a Locomotor Activity in Photocell Cages protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 9 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 4 materials. Extracted from a 1983 paper published in British Journal of Pharmacology.
Model and subjects
rat
Study window
~3 week study window | ~9.7 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Prepare test subject • Administer injection • Measure locomotor activity
Primary readouts
Key equipment and reagents
Verified items
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Rats were prepared for testing in photocell cages
Note: Subjects included both non-tolerant and tolerant rats
“Rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell cages”
Subcutaneous injection of either (-)-nicotine bitartrate or 0.9% w/v NaCl solution (saline) immediately before testing
Note: Injection administered immediately before the start of the 80-minute testing period
“for 80 min starting immediately after subcutaneous injection of (-)-nicotine bitartrate or 0.9% w/v NaCl solution (saline)”
Record locomotor activity in photocell cages for 80 minutes following injection
Note: Activity measurements begin immediately after injection
“Rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell cages, for 80 min starting immediately after subcutaneous injection”
Monitor for depressant action and ataxia in the first 20 minutes, followed by increased activity later in the session
Note: Effects are dose-dependent with nicotine doses of 0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg base
“nicotine (0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg base) depressed activity and induced ataxia in the first 20 min, but increased activity later in the session; these actions were dose-dependent”
Compare rats given daily or weekly nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) with control rats given saline. Test each subject once weekly with nicotine and once with saline
Note: Tolerance to the depressant action of nicotine persisted for at least 3 weeks
“Tolerance was studied by comparing rats given nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) every day with control rats given saline instead. Each week, every subject was tested once with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) and once with saline”
Administer mecamylamine (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) prior to nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) to assess prevention of initial depressant action
Note: Mecamylamine prevented the initial depressant action of nicotine in non-tolerant subjects
“In non-tolerant subjects, mecamylamine (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) prevented the initial depressant action of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg)”
Administer mecamylamine (0.1, 0.32, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) prior to nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) to assess prevention of locomotor stimulant action in a dose-related manner
Note: Mecamylamine prevented the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine in tolerant rats in a dose-related way
“In tolerant rats, the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) was prevented by mecamylamine (0.1, 0.32, 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) in a dose-related way”
Administer hexamethonium (0.2, 1.0, 5.0 mg/kg s.c.) prior to nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) to assess effects on locomotor stimulant action
Note: Hexamethonium had little or no effect on the locomotor stimulant action of nicotine in tolerant rats
“the quaternary ganglion blocker, hexamethonium (0.2, 1.0, 5.0 mg/kg s.c.) had little or no such effect”
Administer mecamylamine or hexamethonium alone without nicotine to assess baseline effects
Note: Neither mecamylamine nor hexamethonium altered activity when given alone
“Neither mecamylamine nor hexamethonium altered activity when given alone”
This section explains what the experiment is doing, which readouts matter, what the data artifacts usually look like, and how the analysis should flow from raw capture to reported result.
Measurement of locomotor activity in photocell cages following nicotine or saline injection over an 80-minute period to assess the effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non-tolerant and tolerant rats
Objective
Measurement of locomotor activity in photocell cages following nicotine or saline injection over an 80-minute period to assess the effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non-tolerant and tolerant rats
Subjects
From paperrat
Cohort notes
From paperStudy included both non-tolerant and tolerant rats; tolerant rats were given daily or weekly nicotine injections
Prepare test subject
Administer injection
Measure locomotor activity (80 minutes)
Observe behavioral effects in non-tolerant subjects (80 minutes total (first 20 minutes for initial effects))
Locomotor activity measured by photocell cages
From paperThis readout is central to the experiment's endpoint interpretation and should be reviewed before running the analysis.
Artifact type
Longitudinal gait metrics and per-animal performance tables
Comparison focus
Compare recovery trajectory across post-injury timepoints and treatment conditions
Presence and timing of depressant action (first 20 minutes in non-tolerant subjects)
From paperThis readout is central to the experiment's endpoint interpretation and should be reviewed before running the analysis.
Artifact type
Endpoint measurements summarized by group or timepoint
Comparison focus
Compare endpoint magnitude between groups, timepoints, or both
Presence and timing of stimulant action (later in session)
From paperThis readout is central to the experiment's endpoint interpretation and should be reviewed before running the analysis.
Artifact type
Endpoint measurements summarized by group or timepoint
Comparison focus
Compare endpoint magnitude between groups, timepoints, or both
Ataxia induction
From paperThis readout is central to the experiment's endpoint interpretation and should be reviewed before running the analysis.
Artifact type
Endpoint measurements summarized by group or timepoint
Comparison focus
Compare endpoint magnitude between groups, timepoints, or both
Locomotor activity measured by photocell cages
From paperRaw artifact
Per-run gait capture with paw placement, timing, and stride features for each animal
Processed artifact
Cleaned gait metrics table and recovery trend summary across timepoints
Final reported form
Group comparisons of gait indices, stride metrics, or recovery curves
Presence and timing of depressant action (first 20 minutes in non-tolerant subjects)
From paperRaw artifact
Per-sample or per-animal endpoint measurements collected during the experiment
Processed artifact
Structured table with cleaned measurements ready for comparison
Final reported form
Summary statistics and between-group or across-timepoint comparisons
Presence and timing of stimulant action (later in session)
From paperRaw artifact
Per-sample or per-animal endpoint measurements collected during the experiment
Processed artifact
Structured table with cleaned measurements ready for comparison
Final reported form
Summary statistics and between-group or across-timepoint comparisons
Ataxia induction
From paperRaw artifact
Per-sample or per-animal endpoint measurements collected during the experiment
Processed artifact
Structured table with cleaned measurements ready for comparison
Final reported form
Summary statistics and between-group or across-timepoint comparisons
Acquisition
Collect raw experimental outputs with enough metadata to preserve sample identity, condition, and timing.
Preprocessing / cleaning
Review raw outputs for quality, remove unusable captures, and organize the data into a comparison-ready table or image set.
Scoring or quantification
Quantify the primary readouts for this experiment: Locomotor activity measured by photocell cages; Presence and timing of depressant action (first 20 minutes in non-tolerant subjects); Presence and timing of stimulant action (later in session); Ataxia induction.
Statistical comparison
Statistical method not yet structured for this page.
Reporting output
Report representative outputs alongside summary comparisons for Locomotor activity measured by photocell cages, Presence and timing of depressant action (first 20 minutes in non-tolerant subjects), Presence and timing of stimulant action (later in session), Ataxia induction.
Source links and direct wording from the methods section for validation and deeper review.
Citation
P.B.S. Clarke et al. (1983). The effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non‐tolerant and tolerant rats. British Journal of Pharmacology
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