Acetylcholine (ACh) has a crucial role in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The
enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is responsible for synthesizing ACh from acetyl …

Acetylcholine in the brain alters neuronal excitability, influences synaptic transmission,
induces synaptic plasticity, and coordinates firing of groups of neurons. As a result, it …

Pharmacological data clearly indicate that both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine
receptors have a role in the encoding of new memories. Localized lesions and antagonist …

Anxiolytic effects of nicotine have been documented in studies with rodents and humans.
Understanding the neural basis of nicotine-induced anxiolysis can help both with …

A single nicotine exposure increases dopamine levels in the mesolimbic reward system for
hours, but nicotine concentrations experienced by smokers desensitize nAChRs on …

The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic accumulation of evidence indicating that
the excitatory amino acid glutamate plays an important role in drug addiction and …

The tragic health effects of nicotine addiction highlight the importance of investigating the
cellular mechanisms of this complex behavioral phenomenon. The chain of cause and effect …

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) that
plays an important role in cellular calcium signaling and contributes to several neurological …

In developed countries, tobacco use is estimated to be the largest single cause of premature
death [Lancet 339 (1992) 1268]. Nicotine is the main addictive component of tobacco that …

Several lines of evidence suggest a link between the α7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor (nAChR) and brain disorders including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and …