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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
The role of the cannabinoid system in nicotine addiction
Anna Castañé1, Fernando Berrendero, Rafael Maldonado
1Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, Facultat de Ciències de la Salut i de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, C/ Dr. Aiguader, 80. 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
Nicotine, the main psychoactive component in tobacco smoke, appears to play a major role in tobacco addiction, producing a high morbidity and mortality in the world. A great amount of research has been developed to elucidate the neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems involved in such a complex addictive behaviour. One possible candidate is the cannabinoid system, which has been reported to participate in the addictive properties of other drugs of abuse. This review is focused on the recent pharmacological and molecular studies assessing cannabinoid-nicotine interactions, with special attention to those studies evaluating the behavioural responses related to the development of nicotine addiction.
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