'The Skinny' on Nicotine and Weight Loss (1 of 5) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

'The Skinny' on Nicotine and Weight Loss (1 of 5)

Caption

This shows the structure of the family of nicotine receptors. Receptors for nicotine in the brain are made up of combinations of alpha and beta subunits arranged like barrel staves around a pore. These receptors allow current to flow into the nerve cells on which they are expressed and are normally stimulated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, but are also activated by the nicotine in tobacco. The nicotine receptors containing the beta 4 subunit are essential for the effects of nicotine on food intake and body weight. This image relates to an article that appeared in the June 10, 2011, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The study, by Dr. Yann S. Mineur of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues was titled, "Nicotine Decreases Food Intake Through Activation of POMC Neurons."

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