Evidences a(CHEBI:nicotine) to p(FPLX:CHRN)

Activation and desensitization of nAChRs by bath-applied nicotine also increases LTD induced by a stimulus train

This puzzle does not yet have a complete answer, but it is clear that chronic nicotine increases the number of nAChRs themselves (Marks et al., 1983; Schwartz and Kellar, 1983)

The nicotine initially activates nAChRs on DA neurons, causing an increase in burst firing and overall firing rate (88, 121, 123, 124, 134).

nAChRs also underlie the behavioral and addictive properties of nicotine

Nicotine both activates and desensitizes nAChRs in midbrain dopaminergic neurons (Brodie, 1991; Pidoplichko et al., 1997), and the pleasurable effects associated with nicotine intake occur in large part via the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system (Corrigall et al., 1992; Koob and Volkow,2010)

At the level of whole brain, chronic nicotine causes selective upregulation of nAChRs among major brain regions. Upregulation occurs in cortex, midbrain, and hypothalamus, but not in thalamus or cerebellum (Pauly et al., 1991; Marks et al., 1992; Nguyen et al., 2003; Nashmi et al., 2007; Doura et al., 2008)

In terms of functional effects, nicotine acts acutely much in the way that ACh does, causing opening of nAChR channels.

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