Nicotine in Acute and Chronic Usage Has Antidepressant Effects and Reverses Learned Helplessness.
Antidepressantlike effects of chronic nicotine on learned helplessness paradigm in rats
Antidepressantlike effects of chronic nicotine on learned helplessness paradigm in rats. - PubMed - NCBI
"These results suggest that chronic nicotine may act as an antidepressant, probably via nicotinic receptors."
Antidepressant-like effects of the acute and chronic administration of nicotine in the rat forced swimming test and its interaction with flouxetine
"Results showed that Nicotine induced a significant reduction of the time in immobility during the forced swim test (antidepressant effect), with a concomitant increase in swimming activity after acute administration. These effects remain the same after subchronic and chronic administration."
Antidepressant Effect of Ingested Nicotine in Female Rats of Flinders Resistant and Sensitive Lines
This study shows nicotine has antidepressant effects on depressed rats independent of their genetic pre-disposition to depression. It also shows depressed rats that self administer nicotine show decreased immobility in the forced swim test. Depressed rats will relieve their symptoms with nicotine.
It is common for those with depression to smoke cigarettes/self administer nicotine. Rats do the same thing as it improves their situation. Nicotine must be seen as a tool sought by the user to reverse their helplessness.
How Does Nicotine Reverse Depression/Learned Helplessness?
The mechanisms through which nicotine reverses depression are complex but similar to the mechanisms through which caffeine reduces depression. I wrote an article on nicotine that compared many of its effects to those of caffeine:
Nicotine [Through A Peat Prism?]
Notable antidepressent effects of nicotine derive from its effect of lowering serotonin and increasing dopamine/neurosteroids/and energy expenditure:
-Chronic nicotine increases expression of tyrosine hydroxylase which is the enzyme that converts tyrosine to dopamine. This effect lasts up to 7 days after cessation of nicotine administration. Chronic nicotine decreases expression of tryptophan hydroxylase which is the enzyme that converts tryptophan to serotonin. Basically more dopamine and less serotonin is being produced.
-Nicotine increases uptake of serotonin- reducing its levels in the brain. Nicotine also decreases the intake of tryptophan into the brain. Estrogen increases serotonin and nicotine strongly decreases estrogen.
-Nicotine increases the levels of neurosteroids- pregnenolone, allopregnenolone, and progesterone in the brain. increases of these neurosteroids can have anti-depressant effects.
-Nicotine increases mitochondrial uncoupling, thermogenesis, and the energy expenditure of the organism. Caffeine and thyroid work similarly. This increased energy expenditure is the opposite of the energy conservation seen in states of hibernation, fasting, chronic stress, and depression.
Antidepressantlike effects of chronic nicotine on learned helplessness paradigm in rats
Antidepressantlike effects of chronic nicotine on learned helplessness paradigm in rats. - PubMed - NCBI
"These results suggest that chronic nicotine may act as an antidepressant, probably via nicotinic receptors."
Antidepressant-like effects of the acute and chronic administration of nicotine in the rat forced swimming test and its interaction with flouxetine
"Results showed that Nicotine induced a significant reduction of the time in immobility during the forced swim test (antidepressant effect), with a concomitant increase in swimming activity after acute administration. These effects remain the same after subchronic and chronic administration."
Antidepressant Effect of Ingested Nicotine in Female Rats of Flinders Resistant and Sensitive Lines
This study shows nicotine has antidepressant effects on depressed rats independent of their genetic pre-disposition to depression. It also shows depressed rats that self administer nicotine show decreased immobility in the forced swim test. Depressed rats will relieve their symptoms with nicotine.
It is common for those with depression to smoke cigarettes/self administer nicotine. Rats do the same thing as it improves their situation. Nicotine must be seen as a tool sought by the user to reverse their helplessness.
How Does Nicotine Reverse Depression/Learned Helplessness?
The mechanisms through which nicotine reverses depression are complex but similar to the mechanisms through which caffeine reduces depression. I wrote an article on nicotine that compared many of its effects to those of caffeine:
Nicotine [Through A Peat Prism?]
Notable antidepressent effects of nicotine derive from its effect of lowering serotonin and increasing dopamine/neurosteroids/and energy expenditure:
-Chronic nicotine increases expression of tyrosine hydroxylase which is the enzyme that converts tyrosine to dopamine. This effect lasts up to 7 days after cessation of nicotine administration. Chronic nicotine decreases expression of tryptophan hydroxylase which is the enzyme that converts tryptophan to serotonin. Basically more dopamine and less serotonin is being produced.
-Nicotine increases uptake of serotonin- reducing its levels in the brain. Nicotine also decreases the intake of tryptophan into the brain. Estrogen increases serotonin and nicotine strongly decreases estrogen.
-Nicotine increases the levels of neurosteroids- pregnenolone, allopregnenolone, and progesterone in the brain. increases of these neurosteroids can have anti-depressant effects.
-Nicotine increases mitochondrial uncoupling, thermogenesis, and the energy expenditure of the organism. Caffeine and thyroid work similarly. This increased energy expenditure is the opposite of the energy conservation seen in states of hibernation, fasting, chronic stress, and depression.