Prasad C, Ikegami H, Shimizu I, Onaivi E S
Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112.
Life Sci. 1994;54(16):1169-84. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(94)00839-6.
We have evaluated the effect of chronic nicotine intake on the age-associated loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The striatal density of dopamine (D1 and D2) receptors and DA-uptake sites decreased with age. Concomitant with these changes was a pronounced loss of many behavioral functions associated, at least in part, with dopaminergic neurotransmission. Chronic oral intake of nicotine resulted in partial restoration of the loss of receptors as well as behavioral performances. The results suggest that low doses of nicotine could have beneficial effects during aging.
我们评估了长期摄入尼古丁对与年龄相关的黑质纹状体多巴胺能神经元丧失的影响。多巴胺（D1和D2）受体以及多巴胺摄取位点的纹状体密度会随着年龄增长而降低。与这些变化同时出现的是许多行为功能的显著丧失，这些行为功能至少部分与多巴胺能神经传递有关。长期口服尼古丁可使受体丧失以及行为表现得到部分恢复。结果表明，低剂量尼古丁在衰老过程中可能具有有益作用。
