Nicotine enhances melanin, ensuring protecting against Parkinson's

Can nicotine be used medicinally in Parkinson's disease?

There is now robust experimental evidence for a neuroprotective effect of nicotine upon dopaminergic neurons.
There is still no agreement on the daily dosage of nicotine or the method of administration. Together, these data suggest that nicotine or nicotinic receptor drugs have therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease, although the specific treatment regimens remain to be determined.
[link to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Differential effects of nicotine on the activity of substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons in vitro.
Levels of nicotine comparable with those encountered in smokers (0.2-1.0 microM, 3 min) not only increased firing rate, but also evoked prolonged irregular firing, as indicated by the increase in the coefficient of variation of discharge frequencies. Enhanced glutamate release and glutamate receptor activation are involved in the effects of nicotine on discharge frequency.
Furthermore, nicotine (1.0 microM) exerted a greater increase in the firing frequency of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons relative to substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons.
Low concentrations of nicotine can thus profoundly modulate the activity of dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons through a local action within the ventral midbrain in vitro, and, similarly to in vivo conditions, evoke stronger effects in the VTA.
[link to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The VTA, like the substantia nigra, is populated with melanin-pigmented dopaminergic neurons.
Neurobiologists have often had great difficulty distinguishing the VTA in humans and other primate brains from the substantia nigra (SN) and surrounding nuclei.
Recent studies have suggested that dopaminergic neurons comprise 50-60% of all neurons in the VTA.
The VTA is the origin of the dopaminergic cell bodies of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and is widely implicated in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain. It is important in cognition, motivation, orgasm, drug addiction, intense emotions relating to love, and several psychiatric disorders. The VTA contains neurons that project to numerous areas of the brain, from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the caudal brainstem and several regions in between.
Electrophysiological recordings have demonstrated that VTA neurons respond to novel stimuli, unexpected rewards, and reward-predictive sensory cues.
Various emotional states relating to intense love correlated with activity in the VTA, which may help explain obsessive behaviors of rejected partners since this is shared by the reward system.

* Ventral tegmental area (VTA) projections

* VTA → Amygdala
* VTA → Cingulate gyrus
* VTA → Hippocampus
* VTA → Nucleus accumbens
* VTA → Olfactory bulb
* VTA → Prefrontal cortex

[link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]

Still not a risk I'm willing to take. Any long time smokers willing to chime in?

Medical use? Well that explains why they want vapourizers banned...

continue..

get it from gum? chew tobacco leaf?

My Dad smoked tobacco from the age of 12 until he died of lung cancer at 86. For a while he smoked as much as 3 packs a day. His mind was very sharp all his life.


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Ive quit after 16 years. Spebt two months ob the gum. Been nicotine free over two weeks I feel great.

Nicotine definitely gives me a rush. I noticed even the gum would make my heart thump upon receiving it. Vasoconstrictor something or other.

Ive noticed an increase in cognitive function and im energized morning noon and night.

Nicotine may prevent parkinsons though huh?????

Hmmmm

Terrible smokes burden on mankind

Long-term nicotine treatment may result in an improvement in neuromelanin neurons' integrity and/or function. These observations may have therapeutic implications for Parkinson's disease.
[link to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

When you partake in Cannabis your body makes more Melatonin out of the Amino Acid Tryptophan.

These are Precursors to Serotonin and DMT.

Meaning......

Entire books have been written on the Meaning of DMT and its relationship to Consciousness.

You might start with one of them.