Nicotine suppresses appetite by activation of specific neurons

Many people use smoking as a mechanism to suppresses appetite and control their body weight. Nicotine in cigarettes is the culprit, affecting peripheral energy expenditures, but also affecting the central nervous system to regulate feeding. Mineur et. al. (Science 332: 1330-1332, June 10, 2011) have now uncovered some the of the molecular steps involved in nicotine-suppressed appetite control. In mouse models, nicotine binds to its receptor (the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor or nAChR) in a specific region of the brain called the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Here nicotine activates the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons that begin to fire more frequently. This increased neuron stimulation produces more melanocortin that is known to decrease the urge to eat. The hope is that this work can lead to the development of new therapy to treat obesity and other metabolic syndromes.