IT’S THE FIRE FROM THE MATCH –
March 25, 2024 – One clear difference between men and women is their production of estrogen. Therefore, the researchers trawled through a large library of genes known to be activated by this hormone, specifically those expressed in our brains. We can confirm that estrogen drives nicotine seeking and consumption through olfactomedins …
The researchers then performed a series of studies with human uterine cells and rats to better understand the interactions between olfactomedins, estrogen and nicotine. Through their experiments, an interesting feedback loop emerged: estrogen activates olfactomedins, which, in turn, are suppressed in the presence of nicotine in areas of the brain involved in reward and addiction. In other words, this olfactomedin intermediary could be driving individuals to seek out nicotine to satisfy these reward circuits.
