Effects of chronic administration of nicotine on storage and synthesis of noradrenaline in rat brain.

1. Chronic administration of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously four times a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks) did not affect the growth rate and water intake in rats. In these animals food intake was normal for the first 5 weeks, but was significantly increased during the sixth week of treatment.2. Nicotine administration increased the blood pressure of rats from 120 mm Hg to 151 mm Hg.3. The concentrations of endogenous noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and acetylcholine in the brain remained unaltered. However, chronic treatment with nicotine increased the turnover rate of noradrenaline. Initial accumulation of (3)H-noradrenaline was also significantly increased.4. It is concluded from these studies that changes in the turnover of cerebral noradrenaline caused by chronic administration rather than changes in the concentration of noradrenaline may be an important factor in nicotine-induced behavioural changes.