Nicotine chemistry, metabolism, kinetics and biomarkers

Neal L Benowitz1, Janne Hukkanen, Peyton Jacob

  • 1Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of California, San Francisco, P. O. Box 1220, San Francisco, CA 94143-1220, USA. nbenowitz@medsfgh.ucsf.edu

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Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
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