HOME >> MEDICINE >> NEWS
Studies underscore genetic involvement in nicotine addiction & aggressive hostility

WASHINGTON -- Two new studies in the current issue of Behavioral Neuroscience present new evidence of how genes may foster two potentially harmful proclivities: one, to nicotine addiction; the other, to aggressively hostile behavior. Behavioral Neuroscience is published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

First, behavioral geneticists at the University of Colorado compared the average daily nicotine consumption in mice. Co-author Jerry Stitzel, PhD, and his team found that mice with the "threonine" polymorphism (an alteration to a gene's DNA sequence) in a gene called Chrna4 consumed significantly more nicotine than mice with an alanine polymorphism in the same gene. The authors think that this threonine variation may allow these mice to tolerate higher nicotine levels before experiencing negative nervous-system side effects.

Chrna4 (Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha4) contains the instructions to build a protein that is part of a receptor that recognizes acetylcholine, a major neurotransmitter that plays a role in the brain's pleasure system and also aids learning and memory, sleep, control of muscle movement, heart rate, blood pressure and more. Because nicotine is chemically very similar to acetylcholine, it binds to the same receptors, including those with the protein made from Chrna4. Thus the nervous system responds to nicotine as if it were acetylcholine.

The authors conclude that natural variations in Chrna4 could, by varying how the nicotine receptors works, result in animal-by-animal variation in nicotine tolerance. That may explain why in humans (the gene is found in essentially all animals), CHRNA4 polymorphisms are associated with nicotine dependence. People with certain gene variations may be able to tolerate more nicotine before they get sick and as a result smoke more in the first place, promoting addiction. Nicotine is a natural insecticide found only in tobacco. Like other insecticides, it is ex
'"/>

Contact: APA Public Affairs Office
public.affairs@apa.org
202-336-5700
American Psychological Association
6-Mar-2005


Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. Studies address issues of risk and survival in rapidly increasing GI cancers
2. Studies examine coffee drinking and risk of liver and colorectal cancers
3. Studies reveal physicians attitudes on end-of-life care
4. Studies from the November issue of The Archives of Dermatology, a theme issue on facial rejuvenation
5. Studies link obesity to increased frequency of heartburn symptoms; greater risk of esophageal cancer
6. Studies demonstrate positive data in treatment of hepatitis C
7. Studies examine risk factors and potential consequences associated with prehypertension
8. Studies show ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl) has positive effects on various components of dyslipidemia
9. Studies identify risk factors for colon cancer
10. Studies indicate healthy eating may affect cancer development, improve digestive system
11. Studies compare hysterectomy vs. other medical treatments for abnormal uterine bleeding

Post Your Comments:
(Date:5/24/2013)... New York (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 ... 2010 DePuy hip recall continue to move forward in ... According to documents filed in California’s San Francisco Superior ... seeking an expedited trial of her DePuy hip lawsuit ... v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., et al., No. CGC11508806; Calif. ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24 (HealthDay News) -- Patients hospitalized for heart failure ... admitted on Mondays or in the morning, a new ... are highest among heart failure patients admitted in January, ... are scheduled to present their findings Saturday in Portugal ... of the European Society of Cardiology. "The ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... ResortQuest Real Estate® is proud to announce ... at the firm’s Bethany Beach location. , Originally from ... in 1975. Her real estate career began in 1987 ... the real estate business - receptionist, cleaning coordinator, director ... licensed sales associate. , “I am delighted to ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 With Memorial Day Weekend ... Amica Insurance is offering tips to help prevent grill ... Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that gas grills led ... 2010. Charcoal or other solid-fueled grills, meanwhile, caused approximately 1,200 ... a result, Amica Insurance is sharing the following tips from ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... News) -- New research suggests a link between ... insomnia. Every additional hour someone with insomnia ... in the likelihood of moderate or high risk ... of Pennsylvania. "We were surprised by ... and suicide risk," study author, Linden Oliver, clinical ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:DePuy ASR Hip Lawsuit News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Request for Voluntary Dismissal in California DePuy Hip Recall Case 2Health News:DePuy ASR Hip Lawsuit News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Request for Voluntary Dismissal in California DePuy Hip Recall Case 3Health News:DePuy ASR Hip Lawsuit News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Request for Voluntary Dismissal in California DePuy Hip Recall Case 4Health News:Monday Best Time for Hospitalization With Heart Failure, Study Says 2Health News:Tammy Mushrush Joins ResortQuest Real Estate® and the Dayna Feher Team 2Health News:Don’t Get Burned: Five Grilling Tips from Amica Insurance 2Health News:Sleep Duration Linked to Suicidal Thoughts in People With Insomnia 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Hearing health affects a man,s lifestyle, ... remain socially and professionally engaged, he should address any hearing ... that the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is delivering ... Men,s Health Week , which leads up to and includes ... June 10 through June 16. To help ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... More than half of women diagnosed with ... and still have excellent outcomes. To educate women, Agendia, ... largest sources of online consumer information about breast cancer ... provide recently diagnosed women with information sources, to help ... "We anticipate these innovative social media campaigns will ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013  Hologic, Inc. ... ), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of ... with an emphasis on serving the healthcare needs ... observational study in a U.S. clinical practice comparing ... (breast tomosynthesis) with conventional 2D mammography alone showed ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 2Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 3Men Who Want to Stay Active, Feel Younger, and Remain Socially and Professionally Engaged Should Address Hearing Loss, BHI Advises 4Agendia Launches Social Media Campaigns to Help Breast Cancer Patients with Chemotherapy Decisions 2Agendia Launches Social Media Campaigns to Help Breast Cancer Patients with Chemotherapy Decisions 3First Large-Scale Population-Based Study in the U.S. Shows Hologic's 3D Mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis) Significantly Reduces Recall Rates While Simultaneously Improving Cancer Detection 2First Large-Scale Population-Based Study in the U.S. Shows Hologic's 3D Mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis) Significantly Reduces Recall Rates While Simultaneously Improving Cancer Detection 3First Large-Scale Population-Based Study in the U.S. Shows Hologic's 3D Mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis) Significantly Reduces Recall Rates While Simultaneously Improving Cancer Detection 4
Cached News: