Kylie Obray

Dr. Mika

Nicotine Relieves Anxiety

I am reviewing two articles that are based on studies of the effects of nicotine in relation
to stress levels. The first is a popular press article titled, Why Nicotine in Cigarettes Can Relieve
Anxiety in Smokers, that was published by Virginia Commonwealth University. The original
science article comes from PLoS ONE and is titled, Low Dose Nicotine and Antagonism of b2
Subunit Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Have Similar Effects on Affective
Behavior in Mice. They are conducting the research to see if there is a way to help smokers quit
without feeling anxious, through their understanding of the neurochemical pathways that support
smoking behavior (VCU, 2012).
The hypothesis of the popular press article suggests that studies show the inactivation of a
specific sub-class of nicotinic receptors may be an effective strategy to help smokers quit without
feeling anxious (VCU, 2012). The hypothesis of the scientific article states that nicotine and a
selective antagonist of b2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) would lead to both
activation and desensitization (inactivation) of nAChRs (Anderson, 2012). The hypotheses in
the popular press article, as well as the scientific article are similar, in that they suggest that
nicotine acts more of an inactivator rather than an activator. Both articles also suggest that
nicotine receptors are what cause fear-like and anxiety-like behavior. However, the hypotheses
differ in that the popular press article is focused on humans and the scientific article is mainly
based around rodent subjects.
The results of the popular press article article state that, understanding what other
subunits combine with beta2 to form the critical receptors that regulate anxiety could lead to
selective therapeutics with fewer side effects (VCU, 2012). They state the reason that most
smokers pick up or keep their habit is to relieve stress and anxiety, despite all of the known
health risks associated with smoking. They briefly mention that the study was performed on
animal models but dont go into much detail or even mention that they were studying mice.
There is an overall hopeful tone throughout the article but I didnt find it overwhelmingly
convincing.
Essentially in the scientific article, the results that were reached were that the inactivation
of the nicotine subunit is what actually reduces fear-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents,
which then suggests that smokers are more motivated to smoke when their levels of anxiety
become higher (Anderson, 2012). The scientific article also identifies b2*nAChR antagonism as
a potential therapeutic strategy for relief of negative affect and anxiety (Anderson, 2012).
There were a series of tests that the mice were put through and they are outlined in great detail: a
conditioned emotional response test, a marble burying task and an elevated plus maze. The
rodents were administered nicotine prior to their tasks and then they were observed. Great
lengths were taken to describe the ethics, the subjects, the cages, procedures, etc. They also
made sure that the low does of nicotine didnt effect the mices locomotor activity. Everything
was documented and recorded, there were even plenty of graphs found throughout the article.
The scientific article briefly touched on previous human studies. They added that,
Studies in human smokers reveal that multiple factors contribute to tobacco use; as well as the
pleasure received from smoking, many report that they use tobacco to relieve anxiety or to relax.
The first cigarette of the day results in an abrupt increase in nicotine plasma concentrations that
smokers associate with the rewarding effects of the drug. The nicotine ingested from a single
cigarette is sufficient to occupy 80% of b2*nAChRs. During subsequent smoking episodes,
smokers achieve smaller increases in nicotine that ought to preferentially favor desensitization of
nAChRsAs nicotine levels drop, populations of b2*nAChRs in brain regions that regulate
anxiety become available for activation by ACh in response to stressful stimuli such as cigarette/
tobacco cues (Anderson, 2012). I found this extremely interesting to know that the first
cigarette of the day has the capability of occupying 80% of the b2*nAChRs and that with each
following cigarette there are less and less places for it to occupy. It definitely makes sense that
as the nicotine levels drop, the chance of feeling more anxiety increases.
After reviewing both articles, Ive found that they arrive at basically the same conclusion
that these pavlovian-like experiments show evidence that low doses of nicotine reduce anxiety
and fear. They both seem very hopeful of using the inactivation of a specific sub-class of
nicotinic receptors to develop an effective strategy to help smokers quit without feeling anxious.
Ive also come to the conclusion that both articles support the idea that nicotine acts through
inactivation, as well as, when a smokers choose to quit, they are motivated to start up again when
they become desensitized to b2*nAChRs.
It was interesting to read from these two articles because Ive always wanted to know
what triggers the anxiety and fear in smokers trying to quit, causing them to return to their bad
habit. In both articles the main issue that is discussed is that smokers return to smoking to relieve
their anxiety despite the health hazards that it may cause. I think it would be a huge discovery if
they were able to help smokers quit without feeling anxious because that is a huge driving force
behind smoking. I think the most interesting thing that I learned was about the first cigarette of
the day being able to occupy up to 80% of the b2*nAChRs in the brain, producing a rewarding
feeling. Even more interesting is that each subsequent cigarette produces less and less of a
rewarding feeling because of the lack of places for the nicotine to bond. As the nicotine levels
drop then the anxiety level increases because the b2*nAChRs are no longer being blocked. I
also found it interesting that there were such great lengths that they went to in order to record all
of the information and tests that were being done. It seems crazy that we are able to learn from
mice and the effects that substances have on them. I learned that there is a lot of time and
research that goes into projects and that sometimes the information from popular press articles
can be tweaked just a little bit to become more interesting to readers.
















Works Cited

Anderson SM, Brunzell DH (2012) Low Dose Nicotine and Antagonism of b2 Subunit
Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Have Similar Effects on Affective
Behavior in Mice. PLoS ONE 7(11): e48665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048665.<http://
www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi
%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0048665&representation=PDF>.

Virginia Commonwealth University. "Why nicotine in cigarettes can relieve anxiety in smokers."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 November 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/
2012/11/121108181723.htm>.