BOT 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Nicotiana Tabacum, Jean Nicot, Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
30 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Most psychoacive chemicals contain nitrogen and are alkaloids. An excepion is the acive compound in marijuana, delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) Psychoacive drugs act on cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems by altering the interacion between neurons and neurotransmiters. Drugs either mimic (agonist) or block (antagonist) the acions of neurotransmiters (including dopamine, beta-endorphins and serotonin) Originally, narcoic referred to a substance that induces central nervous system depression (ex: opiates) Today, the term narcoic is used to describe psychoacive compounds that are addicive. Plant alkaloids can be simulants- promoing mental alertness, reduce faigue and suppress hunger. Mimics acetylcholine acion in the brain, binds to the nicoine receptor on the surface of dopaminergic neurons. Tobacco consumpion increases the number of nicoinic receptors in the brain. Dopamine levels are increased in the nucleus accumbens part of the brain. Highest concentraion (0. 5 to 10mg) is in the uppermost leaves. Upon lowering, the inlorescence is removed to ensure maximum leaf growth.
