2019
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in the Hypothalamus: Mechanisms Related to Nicotine’s Effects on Food Intake
Calarco CA, Picciotto MR. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in the Hypothalamus: Mechanisms Related to Nicotine’s Effects on Food Intake. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2019, 22: 152-163. PMID: 30690485, PMCID: PMC7297099, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntz010.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsFood intakeNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsWeight gainBody weightPreclinical workAcetylcholine receptorsPost-cessation weight gainOrexigenic agouti-related peptideAnorexigenic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsNicotine replacement therapyAgouti-related peptideNicotinic agonist cytisineAbility of nicotineLower body weightProopiomelanocortin neuronsNicotine administrationHypothalamic circuitsReplacement therapyArcuate nucleusNicotine effectsNicotine actsAgonist cytisineAverage weight gainTobacco useRodent models
2018
Molecular and cellular characterization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in the arcuate nucleus of the mouse hypothalamus
Calarco CA, Li Z, Taylor SR, Lee S, Zhou W, Friedman JM, Mineur YS, Gotti C, Picciotto MR. Molecular and cellular characterization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in the arcuate nucleus of the mouse hypothalamus. European Journal Of Neuroscience 2018, 48: 1600-1619. PMID: 29791746, PMCID: PMC6251769, DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13966.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPOMC cellsArcuate nucleusFood intakeOrexigenic agouti-related peptideNicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypesAnorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsDecrease food intakePro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsAcetylcholine receptor subtypesMRNA levelsAgouti-related peptideNicotinic agonist cytisineNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsSubunit mRNA levelsNeuronal cell typesAnorexigenic neuronsNicotinic regulationNicotinic modulationSmall hairpin RNAHypothalamic regionsReal-time PCRReceptor subtypesAgonist cytisineΑ7 subunitAcetylcholine receptors
2017
Access to nicotine in drinking water reduces weight gain without changing caloric intake on high fat diet in male C57BL/6J mice
Calarco CA, Lee S, Picciotto MR. Access to nicotine in drinking water reduces weight gain without changing caloric intake on high fat diet in male C57BL/6J mice. Neuropharmacology 2017, 123: 210-220. PMID: 28623168, PMCID: PMC5544033, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-fat dietCaloric intakeWeight gainFat dietFemale miceMale miceBody weightAdipose tissueEffects of HFDOverall caloric intakeAmphetamine-regulated transcriptNicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunitsLower body weightMelanin-concentrating hormoneSex-dependent mannerRegulation of agoutiChow-fed animalsAcetylcholine receptor subunitsNicotine administrationChronic consumptionArcuate nucleusNicotine dosesNicotine intakeFood intakeTobacco use
2012
Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior
Picciotto MR, Higley MJ, Mineur YS. Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior. Neuron 2012, 76: 116-129. PMID: 23040810, PMCID: PMC3466476, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.08.036.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain areasAlters neuronal excitabilityAbility of acetylcholineNeuronal networksNervous system functionGroups of neuronsCholinergic modulationReceptor subtypesNeuronal excitabilityFood intakeSynaptic transmissionNeuronal populationsSynaptic plasticityAcetylcholineSynaptic propertiesDrug abuseSite of releaseNeuromodulatorsClassical roleOngoing stimulusNeuronsDiverse effectsSystem functionResponseCholinergic
2011
Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice
Abizaid A, Mineur YS, Roth RH, Elsworth JD, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Horvath TL. Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice. Neuroscience 2011, 192: 500-506. PMID: 21699961, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGhrelin KO miceWT miceDopamine releaseLocomotor activityBehavioral effectsDopamine metabolite concentrationsGhrelin-deficient miceLocomotor-stimulating effectsDopamine cell activityEffects of cocaineMesolimbic dopaminergic systemWild-type littermatesOrexigenic hormoneChronic injectionsDopamine utilizationDaily injectionsStriatal dopamineMesolimbic systemWT littermatesDopaminergic systemDaily cocaineFood intakeRewarding effectsPsychostimulant effectsLocomotor responseNicotine Decreases Food Intake Through Activation of POMC Neurons
Mineur YS, Abizaid A, Rao Y, Salas R, DiLeone RJ, Gündisch D, Diano S, De Biasi M, Horvath TL, Gao XB, Picciotto MR. Nicotine Decreases Food Intake Through Activation of POMC Neurons. Science 2011, 332: 1330-1332. PMID: 21659607, PMCID: PMC3113664, DOI: 10.1126/science.1201889.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFood intakePOMC neuronsNicotine decreases food intakeDecrease food intakePro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsΑ3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorsHypothalamic melanocortin systemNicotine-induced decreasesMelanocortin-4 receptorNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsAnorexic effectDecrease appetiteSmoking cessationSynaptic mechanismsMelanocortin systemNovel treatmentsBody weightAcetylcholine receptorsNeurobiological mechanismsNeuronsIntakeSubsequent activationAppetiteActivationReceptors
2010
Galanin and Addiction
Picciotto MR. Galanin and Addiction. EXS 2010, 102: 195-208. PMID: 21299070, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0346-0228-0_14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalanin receptorsFood intakeOpiate rewardDrug rewardAbility of neuropeptidesMesolimbic dopamine systemDrugs of abuseGalanin agonistsNoradrenergic neuronsDrug withdrawalStriatal slicesWithdrawal signsAnalgesic propertiesLocus coeruleusHypothalamic functionDopamine releaseGalaninDopamine systemNovel treatmentsPlace preferenceStress-related pathwaysFiring ratePotential targetWithdrawalIntake
2008
Galanin – 25 years with a multitalented neuropeptide
Picciotto MR. Galanin – 25 years with a multitalented neuropeptide. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2008, 65: 1872-1879. PMID: 18500649, PMCID: PMC11131873, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-008-8151-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalanin receptorsFood intakeOpiate rewardDrug rewardGalanin – 25 yearsAbility of neuropeptidesMesolimbic dopamine systemDrugs of abuseGalanin agonistsNoradrenergic neuronsDrug withdrawalStriatal slicesWithdrawal signsAnalgesic propertiesLocus coeruleusHypothalamic functionDopamine releaseDopamine systemGalaninNovel treatmentsPlace preferenceStress-related pathwaysFiring ratePotential targetWithdrawal