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Identification Of Pharmacological And Molecular Mechanisms Involved In Nicotine Withdrawal, Kia Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco dependence is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Despite currently available smoking cessation therapies, there is a high rate of relapse in smoking among those attempting to quit. While the somatic signs of nicotine withdrawal (insomnia, increased appetite, weight gain) contribute to the continuation of smoking behavior, it has been hypothesized that the affective signs (depression, anxiety, craving, irritability) are greater motivators of relapse and continued tobacco use. There are few studies that assess the molecular and receptor-mediated mechanisms of nicotine withdrawal; therefore, our studies focus on identifying the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes and …