Nicotine physiological effects

M.10 Nicotine, the stimulant in tobacco, causes a very complex set of physiological effects in the body. It is known to have a molar mass of 162 g-mol. When a sample of mass 0.385 g was burned, 1.072 g of carbon dioxide, 0.307 g of water, and 0.068 g of nitrogen were produced. What are the empirical and molecular formulas of nicotine Write the equation for its combustion. 

Heishman SJ, Snyder FR, Henningfieid JE. (1993). Performance, subjective, and physiological effects of nicotine in non-smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend. 34(1) 11-18. 

Cigarette manufacturers may reinforce the physiological effects of nicotine, or otherwise influence the response to nicotine, through introduction and use of compounds that interact with nicotine but do not directly alter its form or delivery. 

The addictiveness of a given substance goes beyond the chemical structure of the addictive drug itself (i.e., morphine, cocaine, or nicotine). The effects are also related to the dose and speed of delivery, as well as to other substances that might be part of the formulation. For example, just as the oral consumption of opioids and cocaine produce substantially less pronounced behavioral and physiological effects than intravenous or smoked consumption, slow release forms of nicotine produce generally less pronounced effects than smoked forms (Henningfield and Keenan 1993). Similarly, the free base or unprotonated forms of cocaine and... 

The nicotinic ACh receptor responds to the alkaloid nicotine contained in tobacco (many of the physiological effects of nicotine are based on this). The nicotinic receptor is ionotropic. Its properties are discussed in greater detail on p. 222. 

The habit of tobacco use is direcdy related to the biological effects of nicotine. While people in the 1500s did not understand the mechanisms behind the complex physiological effects of nicotine, they certainly felt and appreciated its stimulant and relaxing properties. The desire to consume nicotine is encouraged not only by these seemingly pleasant effects, but also by the need to avoid the unpleasant effects of not having nicotine in your blood. Tobacco consumption became a powerful habit that has influenced society in countless ways. 

Foulds, J., Stapleton, J. A., Bell, N., Swettenham, J., Jarvis, M. J. and Russell, M. A. H. 1997. Mood and physiological effects of subcutaneous nicotine in smokers and never-smokers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 44 105-115. 

Alkaloid. A large, varied group of complex nitrogen-containing compounds, usually alkaline, that reacts with acids to form soluble salts, many of which have physiological effect on humans, e.g., nicotine and, caffeine, etc. 

There are other small biomolecules, specific to certain types of cells or organisms. For example, vascular plants contain, in addition to the universal set, small molecules called secondary metabolites, which play a role specific to plant life. These metabolites include compounds that give plants their characteristic scents, and compounds such as morphine, quinine, nicotine, and caffeine that are valued for their physiological effects on humans but used for other purposes by plants. The entire collection of small molecules in a given cell has been called that cell s metabolome, in parallel with the term genome (defined earlier and expanded on in... 

As with the mental effects of nicotine, the physiological effects are brought about by its actions on the nervous system, both peripheral and central. Nicotine changes the transmission of nerve impulses by binding to acetylcholine receptors, and induces the release of several chemical messengers, which in turn affect several body systems. 

In general, diverse TA are known to bind to (a) muscarinic receptors (MR), (b) 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 3 (5-HT3R), (c) al-adrenoreceptors (al-AR), or (d) a7-nicotinic receptors (a7-nAChR) thus causing different physiological effects. The corresponding mechanisms of action should briefly be addressed below. 

Many of the physiological effects of anti-ChEs are attributable to excess neurotransmitter ACh (Taylor 1996). The precise symptoms and the time course depend on the chemicals and the localization of the receptors affected. Early symptoms of cholinergic poisoning represent stimulation of muscarinic neuro-effectors of the parasympathetic system. Effects include slowing of the heart (bradycardia), constriction of the pupil of the eye, diarrhea, urination, lacrimation, and salivation. Actions at nicotinic skeletal neuromuscular junctions (motor end plates) result in muscle fasciculation (disorganized twitching) and, at higher doses. 

Acetylcholine is a widespread chemotransmitter in the body, mediating a broad range of physiological effects.There are two distinct classes of receptor for acetylcholine defined on the basis of their preferential activation by the alkaloids, nicotine (from tobacco) and muscarine (from a fungus, Aman/to muscaria). 

The physiological effects of LSD are related to its sympathomimetic actions and include mydriasis (most frequent and consistent), tachycardia, increased body temperature, diaphoresis, and hypertension at higher doses, parasympathomimetic actions may be observed (e.g., salivation, lacrimation, nausea, and vomiting [muscarinic actions]). Neuromuscular effects may include paresthesia, muscle twitches, and incoordination (nicotinic actions)... 

To return to the acetylcholine receptor, how do we know if there are different subtypes As is often the case, the first clues came from the action of natural compounds. It was discovered that the compounds nicotine and muscarine (Fig. 11.9) were both acetylcholine agonists, but that they had different physiological effects. 

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