The effect of nicotine and haloperidol co-treatment on nicotinic receptor levels in the rat brain.

Genetic and biological data have suggested a role for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the neuropathophysiology of schizophrenia. Studies in human postmortem brain demonstrate dose-dependent increases in nicotinic receptor binding in normal smokers. We found this upregulation to be reduced in schizophrenic smokers, many of whom had taken typical neuroleptics during their lifetime.

[(3)H]Nicotine binding in peripheral blood cells of smokers is correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

The principal sites for biological action of tobacco products are thought to be the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Nicotinic receptor subunit genes, therefore, represent an important gene family for study in nicotine addiction. They are localized in both brain and in the periphery.