Mecamylamine induced blockade of nicotine induced inhibition of gonadotrophin and TSH secretion and of nicotine induced increases of catecholamine turnover in the rat hypothalamus.

Nicotine treatment of normal male rats and of ovariectomized female rats results in increases of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) turnover in the hypothalamus, especially within the median eminence. These effects may in part mediate the inhibition of gonadotrophin and TSH secretion produced by nicotine.