Ibogaine acts at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to inhibit catecholamine release.
Brain research June 22, 1998 S J Mah, Y Tang, P E Liauw et al. 20 citations
Ibogaine, at low concentrations below 10 microM, selectively inhibits catecholamine release triggered by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation in cultured bovine chromaffin cells, while not affecting release caused by membrane depolarization or sodium channel activation. This inhibition is not reversed by kappa opioid receptor antagonists, indicating the effect is not mediated through kappa opioid receptors. The inhibition by low-dose ibogaine is rapidly reversible, whereas higher doses produce inhibition lasting at least 19 hours after removal. These findings suggest ibogaine acts at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, relevant to its potential anti-addictive effects and development of treatments for nicotine addiction.