Possible Interaction: Nicotine and Oxytocin

“Experimental evidence from humans and rodents suggests that nicotine can alter the hypothalamic-pituitary axis through its stimulation of growth hormone, cortisol, vasopressin and oxytocin release which in turn inhibit luteinizing hormone and prolactin release.”

“In the presence of naloxone, plasma AVP and OT levels in response to nicotine were significantly higher than those in the control test.”

“Experimental evidence from humans and rodents suggests that cigarette smoke or nicotine can alter hypothalamic-pituitary interrelationships, stimulating growth hormone, cortisol, vasopressin, and oxytocin release and inhibiting luteinizing hormone and prolactin release.”

“The nicotine induced inhibition in spontaneous activity of PVN OT mRNA-expressing magnocellular neurons was dose-dependent.”

“These findings suggested that nicotine modulated PVN OT secretion via enhancement of both presynaptic action potential drive and quantal GABA release.”

“Under current-clamp recording conditions, local micro application of nicotine (1-300μM) induced a decrease in spontaneous firing rate accompanied with a hyperpolarization of membrane potential in 76.7% (56/73) of PVN OT mRNA-expressing magnocellular neurons.”

“ Oxytocin not only significantly increased the nicotine intake but also alleviated nicotine aversion after acclimation to nicotine solution in a concentration dependent manner.”

“We suggest that oxytocin itself mitigates aversive response toward initial nicotine intake and anxiety-like behavior.”

“ Nicotine caused a significant release of both vasopressin and oxytocin from the neural lobe.”

“More importantly, clinical studies have also shown that OXT can exert beneficial effects on reducing substance use disorders of a series of drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and nicotine.”