Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Modulators Reduce Sugar Intake

Abstract

Excess sugar consumption has been shown to contribute directly to weight gain, thus contributing to the growing worldwide obesity epidemic. Interestingly, increased sugar consumption has been shown to repeatedly elevate dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), in the mesolimbic reward pathway of the brain similar to many drugs of abuse. We report that varenicline, an FDA-approved nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist that modulates dopamine in the mesolimbic reward pathway of the brain, significantly reduces sucrose consumption, especially in a long-term consumption paradigm. Similar results were observed with other nAChR drugs, namely mecamylamine and cytisine. Furthermore, we show that long-term sucrose consumption increases α4β2 * and decreases α6β2* nAChRs in the nucleus accumbens, a key brain region associated with reward. Taken together, our results suggest that nAChR drugs such as varenicline may represent a novel treatment strategy for reducing sugar consumption.

Social and environmental enrichment has different effects on ethanol and sucrose consumption in mice

“…The most commonly reported concentrations are 5 and 10% sucrose. We chose 5% over 10% based on Srisontiyakul's study, to allow comparisons with our previous publications showing that long-term consumption of 5% sucrose using the IA2BC model alters nucleus accumbens morphology and our studies showing the 5% concentration can be used to test novel compounds for their ability to reduce bingelike sucrose consumption (Steensland et al, 2010;Patkar et al, 2017;Nielsen et al, 2008;Shariff et al, 2016;Simms, Haass-Koffler, BitoOnon, Li, & Bartlett, 2012;Simms et al, 2011;Srinivasan et al, 2012).…”

Drogas E Alimentos (In) Saudáveis No Contexto Da Governamentalidade Neoliberal

“…Entretanto, a ciência moderna também tem contribuído para estreitar tal relação. Estudos apresentados por Lenoir et al (2007) e Shariff et al (2016) mostraram substratos bioquímicos, consequências neurológicas e psiquiátricas comuns presentes na dependência do açúcar, bem como da cocaína e da nicotina. Todavia, muito antes disso, os efeitos negativos do açúcar sobre a saúde humana foram divulgados em "Sugar Blues, o gosto amargo do açúcar", de Willian Dufty (1975).…”

Anticholinergic Use and Misuse in Psychiatry: A Comprehensive and Critical Review

“…The inhibitory effects of dopaminergic neurons are normally balanced by the excitatory actions of cholinergic neurons [16]. Blocking dopamine receptors by antipsychotics alter this balance, causing a relative excess of cholinergic influence, resulting in extrapyramidal motor effects [17].…”

“…Blocking dopamine receptors by antipsychotics alter this balance, causing a relative excess of cholinergic influence, resulting in extrapyramidal motor effects [17]. If cholinergic activity is also blocked by anticholinergic drugs, a new nearly more normal balance is restored and extrapyramidal side effects are minimized [16]. Table 1: Propensity for Extrapyramidal Side effects (EPS) among different antipsychotic drugs [10][11][12].…”

“…On the other hand, anticholinergic drugs act also as a potent indirect dopamine agonist [16] in the limbic system, which is a set of interconnected brain structures including the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area involved in motivation, learning, memory and reward. This can in part explain the misuse potential of anticholinergic drugs in both psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients.…”