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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Future Oncol. 2010 Feb;6(2):221–228. doi: 10.2217/fon.09.171

Figure 2. Working model of changes in nAChR functions in the brain associated with nicotine addiction.

Figure 2

Chronic exposure to nicotine upregulates the stimulatory α7nAChR without concomittant receptor desensitization, whereas the inhibitory α4β2nAChR undergoes long-term desensitization accompanied by upregulation. The resulting predominance of excitatory neurotransmitters and relative deficiency in inhibitory GABA lead to symptoms associated with nicotine addiction and craving.

GABA-B-R: GABA-B receptor; GPCR: G-protein-coupled receptor; nAChR: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.