Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Glucose Homeostasis: The Acute Hyperglycemic and Chronic Insulin-Sensitive Effects of Nicotine Suggest Dual Opposing Roles of the Receptors in Male Mice

Cigarette smoking causes insulin resistance. However, nicotine induces anti-inflammation and improves glucose tolerance in insulin-resistant animal models. Here, we determined the effects of nicotine on glucose metabolism in insulin-sensitive C57BL/J6 mice. Acute nicotine administration (30 min) caused fasting hyperglycemia and lowered insulin sensitivity acutely, which depended on the activation of nicotinic-acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and...