ArticleNicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco2019
Tobacco Smoking and Brain Endogenous Opioid Release: More Than Nicotine Alone.
Article in Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Impact of environmental enrichment on heroin-induced neuroadaptations in the insula, nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area.Neuropharmacology · 2026Article
- Childhood family environment and μ-opioid receptor availability in vivo in adulthood.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025Article
- Nicotine and opioid co-dependence: Findings from bench research to clinical trials.Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2022Review
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2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe effects of smoking denicotinized (denic) and average nicotine (avnic) tobacco cigarettes were studied on brain mu opioid receptor binding by positron emission tomography with 11C carfentanil. The results indicated the importance of physiological and psychological effects induced by denic smoking.
methodsRegional mu opioid binding potential (nondisplaceable binding potential, BPND) was measured in 20 adult male overnight abstinent chronic tobacco smokers. The denic sessions were conducted about 8:00 am followed by avnic sessions about 2 hours later. Venous plasma nicotine levels and scores of craving to smoke were assessed before and after each smoking session. Fagerstrom scores of nicotine dependence were determined. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation tests were used to examine associations between BPND and other smoking parameters.
resultsSurprisingly, the very low plasma nicotine peak levels after denic smoking (mean ± SD: 3.3 ± 1.8 ng/mL) were significantly correlated with BPND after denic and avnic smoking. Equally surprising no association was found between nicotine levels after avnic smoking and BPND. Delta craving scores and Fagerstrom scores were correlated with both BPND after denic and avnic in several brain regions.
conclusionsVery small amounts of nicotine, psychological and behavioral effects of denic smoking appear to have important actions on the endogenous mu opioid system. IMPLICATIONS: Associations between very low venous plasma nicotine levels after denic smoking and regional brain mu opioid receptor availability are a surprising "placebo" effect. Delta craving and Fagerstrom scores were correlated with BPND in several brain regions including amygdala, hippocampus, insula, nucleus accumbens, putamen, and ventral striatum. This study is limited by modest Power (mean 1 - β = 0.6) for all correlation analyses.
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