Mecamylamine mec

Nicotine bitartrate and mecamylamine (MEC) were obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO) and dissolved in sterile saline. Whole Tobacco Alkaloid (WTA) EC refill liquid (Dark Honey Tobacco flavor in 10 ml vials) was obtained from Aroma E-Juice (http://www.aromaejuice.com, Scottsdale, AZ). According to the label, the refill liquid contained 80% vegetable glycerine (VG) and 20% propylene glycol (PG), and had a nicotine concentration of 24 mg/ml. The nicotine concentration was determined in each 10 ml vial of EC liquid used (see below), allowing dilution in saline to the nicotine concentrations required for the current studies. The pH of the solutions was adjusted to 7.4 with dilute NaOH or HCL, and heparin (30 units/ml) was added to help maintain catheter patency for the self-administration study. Nicotine and mecamylamine doses are expressed as the base and salt, respectively.

CPF (CAS number 2921–88-2) and CPO (CAS Number 5598–15-2) were obtained from ChemService, West Chester, PA (USA). CPF was dissolved in 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and used immediately. CPO was dissolved in methanol (80 mM) and stored at −80°C until needed.
Final toxin concentrations were prepared at 100-fold higher concentrations diluted from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol stocks in Neurobasal media and the final concentrations of DMSO and methanol that were used in the cell cultures (for vehicle and OP exposures) were 0.01%. Atropine (ATR) and mecamylamine (MEC) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA), stored as recommended by the source vendor and stock solutions were prepared in deionized water. ATR and MEC were prepared to use at 50.0 and 10.0 μM, respectively. All stock solutions were prepared at 100-fold higher concentrations in deionized water (≤ 5 (v/v) %, pH 7.0) within 15 minutes of the start of each 24-hour exposure period.