The Role of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) ₇ Subtype in the Functional Interaction Between Nicotine and Ethanol in Mouse Cerebellum

摘要

Background: Many epidemiological studies report that alcoholics overwhelmingly smoke tobacco and vice versa, which suggests a possible functional interaction between ethanol and nicotine. Although nicotine–ethanol interaction is well documented within the central nervous system, the mechanism is not well understood. Therefore, it is important from a public health standpoint to understand the mechanisms involved in nicotine and ethanol functional interaction. The intracerebellar (ICB) administration of nicotine significantly attenuates ethanol ataxia through nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ₄β₂ subtype. This study, an extension of earlier work, was intended to investigate the possible role of nAChR subtype ₇ in mitigating ethanol ataxia.