[Hellstryker]

You hear all these commercials about drugs that block them in the brain, but why the hell do we HAVE nicotine receptors in the first place? 

[Mefustae]

...but why the hell do we HAVE nicotine receptors in the first place? 

To recept nicotine? Duh!

[Hellstryker]

But WHY? All it does is create a nasty habit. Somewhere along our evolutionary lines it seems however that we needed them though, so where?

[Wobble73]

I think it more likely that they are chemical receptors and not "Nicotine" receptors. The receptors are more multi-functional just they also happen to be susceptible to nicotine as well as other drugs/chemicals.

[Rictor]

Because when God designed us, a lobbyist from Phillip-Morris managed to convince Him that it was a good idea.

[Hellstryker]

Because when God designed us, a lobbyist from Phillip-Morris managed to convince Him that it was a good idea.

God why am all i getting is jokes here? cant some of the TVWP nerds join in!? :\

[karajorma]

They're meant to accept other chemicals which the body uses to pass on signals (acetylcholine if I remember my toxicology correctly) but nicotine has the right atoms in the right places to confuse the receptors into thinking that they are the chemical they're meant to be accepting.

[Hellstryker]

'bout time. Praise the great banned one!

[Wobble73]

'bout time. Praise the great banned one!

Errr! I tried to help, well I wasn't joking anyway! 

I think it more likely that they are chemical receptors and not "Nicotine" receptors. The receptors are more multi-functional just they also happen to be susceptible to nicotine as well as other drugs/chemicals.

[Hellstryker]

Everybody but you and karajorma

[Colonol Dekker]

If you want to stop them craving nicotine just have some crack and smother them. Rambo 4 starts in 1 minute. Squee!

[MP-Ryan]

They're meant to accept other chemicals which the body uses to pass on signals (acetylcholine if I remember my toxicology correctly) but nicotine has the right atoms in the right places to confuse the receptors into thinking that they are the chemical they're meant to be accepting.

Yeah, it's actually called a nicotinic receptor; nicotine just happens to bind it as well as natural neurotransmitters.

[BloodEagle]

Nicotine is medically useful.

The one thing that it doesn't mention is that nicotine can be used to treat varicose veins.

[Colonol Dekker]

Yeah but it can contribute by raising blood pressure too. Or is that tar? I forget and apologise in advance if incorrect.

[karajorma]

Nicotine will do that. Tar is a very potent carcinogen (i.e gives you cancer) though. I don't recall ever hearing of nicotine being proven as a carcinogen in its own right. However that doesn't mean it's safe. The reason why plants make nicotine is because it's a natural insecticide. In its pure form it is very toxic to humans. Most people probably don't realise quite how toxic though.

The LD50 of nicotine is 50 mg/kg for rats and 3 mg/kg for mice. 40–60 mg (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) can be a lethal dosage for adult humans.

Now compare that with this

The oral median lethal dose, or LD50 of potassium cyanide is about 5–10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight for rats, mice, and rabbits.

In other words it actually is more toxic to mice than cyanide and close in toxicity for humans.

[Polpolion]

They're meant to accept other chemicals which the body uses to pass on signals (acetylcholine if I remember my toxicology correctly) but nicotine has the right atoms in the right places to confuse the receptors into thinking that they are the chemical they're meant to be accepting.

I was going to say that

[Nuke]

there are better things one can smoke

[Hellstryker]

But are any of them actually healthy with no bad side effects lol?

[Davros]

theres a beetle that eats tobacco plants i wonder if that ever gets cancer ?

[karajorma]

Like I said, AFAIK there's no evidence than nicotine causes cancer. Cigarette smoke is full of all kinds of other nasties which are much more likely to be the cause.