Gregory R. Bock & Joan Marsh 
The Biology of Nicotine Dependence [PDF ebook] 

Nicotine is considered to be the main agent in the maintenance of the tobacco smoking habit and is largely responsible for the behavioral and physiological responses to the inhalation of tobacco smoke. This work presents advances made in the elucidation of the action of nicotine in the body–essential information for developing treatments to help people give up smoking. The book reviews the progress made in identifying nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, using the techniques of molecular biology to characterize receptors and investigate the functional differences between receptors composed of different types of subunits. Sex-specific differences in the response to nicotine, the effects of nicotine on locomotor activity, and its still-debated influence on cognitive performance are considered. The book also examines the habit-forming role of nicotine, the development of tolerance to nicotine, and the less clearly understood phenomenon of withdrawal. Also discusses some potential therapeutic strategies.

Tabella dei contenuti

Partial table of contents:

Behavioral Pharmacology of Nicotine: Implications for Multiple
Brain Nicotinic Receptors (I. Stolerman).

Mechanism of Action of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (J.
Steinbach).

Modulation of Nicotine Receptors by Chronic Exposure to
Nicotinic Agonists and Antagonists (A. Collins, et al.).

Regulation of Endocrine Function by the Nicotinic Cholinergic
Receptor (K. Fuxe, et al.).

Effects of Nicotine on Cerebral Metabolism (E. London).

Mesolimbic Dopamine Activation–The Key to Nicotine
Reinforcement?

(P. Clarke).

Effect of Nicotine on Dynamic Function of Brain Catecholamine
Neurons (T. Svensson, et al.).

Pharmacokinetic Considerations in Understanding Nicotine
Dependence (N. Benowitz).

Behavioral Studies in Humans: Anxiety, Stress and Smoking (O.
Pomerleau & C. Pomerleau).

Index of Contributors.

Subject Index.

Circa l’autore

The Novartis Foundation is an international scientific and educational charity which promotes the study and general knowledge of science and in particular encourages international co-operation in scientific research.