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the dispute about whether cigarette smoking causes addiction. 



Hippo 1 is a rat study designed to investigate the physiologic effects of 

 nicotine on certain of their body functions. The following functions were studied; 

 (1) action of nicotine on urine production; (2) effect of nicotine on production of 

 adrenal ascorbic acid [Vitamin C]; (3) effects of nicotine on regulation of body 

 weight and free fatty acids; (4) effect of nicotine on production of thyroid 

 stimulating hormone and anatomical changes in male rat sexual organs and female 

 rat oestrus cycles. 



The study concluded that (1) urine production is reduced in rats who were 

 given intravenous nicotine; (2) ascorbic acid depletion was demonstrated in rats 

 who were given Intravenous nicotine; (3) reduced weight gain occurred in rats who 

 were given intravenous nicotine; (4) no thyroid stimulating hormone changes 

 occurred and no changes in male or female reproductive organs were demonstrated 

 at physiologic doses of nicotine. Further no effects of nicotine on the 

 hypothalamus were detected. 



This study was not designed to evaluate the role of nicotine in smoking 

 behavior. 



The Report No. 1 regarding Project Hippo II is a review of the literature on 

 cortical, subcortical and midbrain responses to known chemicals (not nicotine). 



Further research is proposed to examine nicotine's effects, if any, on the^e 

 structures. 



The Final Report on Project Hippo II was also a rat study to investigate the 

 biochemical effects of nicotine on the brain. The following areas were explored: 

 (1) the effects of nicotine on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis; (2) the effect 

 of nicotine on weight; (3) the effects of nicotine on other hypothalamic-pituitary 

 functions; (a) thyroid function (b) sex hormone function. 



The conclusions reported were summarized In a single sentence by the 

 authors: "Our attempts to explain nicotine activities on brain functions on a bio- 

 chemical basis was not successful." 



