On the influence of nicotine on our nervous system and health in General, said a lot, but recently a group of scientists from Medical school at northwestern University Feinberg (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine) was the discovery of a new mechanism of habituation, which would help people to not only get rid of nicotine, but also from more dangerous drugs.
As is well known, nicotine has a stimulating effect on the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain, namely, the receptors of dopamine and GABA neurons. Regular stimulation of this region initially creates a state of euphoria, and then the formation mechanisms of addiction. But a group of scientists headed by Professor of pharmacology Ryan Drennon was able to identify additional areas of the brain responsible for the formation of dependence. The researchers found that receptors in the nicotine-sensitive acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) functionally have a connection with the neurons of the hypothalamus. This helped to identify a new target for nicotine.
“Our results add an additional node to model the formation of nicotine addiction. Identification of the detailed mechanisms by which nicotine changes the scheme of work of the brain, is extremely important. Adding a new component, we have expanded opportunities for the development of drugs for indications for combating Smoking and drug addiction. The study results improve the understanding of how neurotransmitters work in the brain. This process is important for normal signaling of dopamine, which is broken in the case of the formation of dependence. And restoring these relationships, we can save people from bad habits”.
A new mechanism of harmful influence of nicotine on the brain
Vladimir Kuznetsov