Effects of nicotine on the release of 3H-noradrenaline from the hypothalamus

Abstract

Nicotine injected intravenously (2 μg kg every 30 sec for 30 min) caused an increased release of ( 3H)noradrenaline into the effluent from the perfused third cerebral ventricle of the cat. Similar changes were observed following the administration of cigarette smoke directly into the lungs and after perfusion of the third ventricle with nicotine (2 or 5 μg/ml). An increase in the efflux of ( 3H)noradrenaline also occurred, after perfusion with nicotine (50 μg/ml) of rat hypothalamic tissue slices. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that nicotine causes release of noradrenaline from the diencephalon, in particular the hypothalamus.