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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
Nicotine dependence - human and animal studies, current pharmacotherapies and future perspectives
Magdalena Zaniewska1, Edmund Przegaliński, Małgorzata Filip
1Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland. zaniew@if-pan.krakow.pl
Abstract:
Nicotine dependence is a disease of constantly growing importance. This mini-review describes the effects of nicotine in humans and focuses on the various laboratory animal models developed to study the dependence-related behavioral effects of nicotine. In addition, we outline the current therapeutic approaches designed to substitute nicotine from cigarette smoke with safer compounds or to relieve symptoms of nicotine withdrawal during smoking abstinence. Since several pharmacotherapies have failed to be efficacious in all patients, we also assess the clinical effectiveness of newer agents in relation to existing drugs.
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