Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B
in the brains of smokers
by
Fowler JS, Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Pappas N,
Logan J, MacGregor R, Alexoff D, Shea C, Schlyer D,
Wolf AP, Warner D, Zezulkova I, Cilento R
Brookhaven National Laboratory,
Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Nature 1996 Feb 22; 379(6567):733-6

ABSTRACT

The massive health problem associated with cigarette smoking is exacerbated by the addictive properties of tobacco smoke and the limited success of current approaches to cessation of smoking. Yet little is known about the neuropharmacological actions of cigarette smoke that contribute to smoking behaviour, or why smoking is so prevalent in psychiatric disorders and is associated with a decreased risk of Parkinson's disease. Here we report that brains of living smokers show a 40% decrease in the level of monoamine oxidase B (MAO B; EC 1.4.3.4) relative to non-smokers or former smokers. MAO B is involved in the breakdown of dopamine, a neurotransmitter implicated in reinforcing and motivating behaviours as well as movement. MAO B inhibition is therefore associated with enhanced activity of dopamine, as well as with decreased production of hydrogen peroxide, a source of reactive oxygen species. We propose that reduction of MAO B activity may synergize with nicotine to produce the diverse behavioural and epidemiological effects of smoking.

MAOIs
Nicotine
Tobacco
Smoking
Cotinine
Dopamine
Selegiline
Rasagiline
Smokers' brains
Drugs and reward
Free-base nicotine
Selegiline and longevity
Antidepressants: nicotine
SSRIs and smokers' hearts
Muscarinic + nicotinic receptors
Bupropion (Zyban) for cigarette smokers
Nicotine versus smokeless tobacco extract
Nicotine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Tobacco smoke and reversible MAO inhibition
Quitting smoking: the role of antidepressants
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