神经生长因子分化后的PC12 细胞对乙酰胆碱的敏感性及其特性

目的和方法：采用全细胞膜片钳技术观察神经生长因子（NGF）分化后的PC12细胞对乙酰胆碱（ACh)的敏感性,并对ACh诱发电流（IACh)的特性进行分析。结果：NGF处理后的PC12乐仅形态上向交感神经元分化,而且具有电学兴奋性,它对ACh敏感性比未分化前显著提高。药理学鉴定表明PC12上的IACh是由烟碱受体（nAChR)引起的,具有明显的失敏特性。宏观IACh呈内向整流和浓度依赖性。结论：PC12细胞培养方便,同源性好,加入NGF后向交感神经元分化,且其具有神经元烟碱受体,可以作为交感神经元烟碱受体研究的很好的模型系统。     

皮质酮快速抑制PC12细胞乙酰胆碱诱发电流影响及机制探讨

目的和方法：本研究采用全细胞膜片箝技术,观察皮质酮（Ｂ）对ＰＣ１２细胞上乙酰胆碱诱发电流（ＩＡＣｈ）的快速作用并初步探讨其可能机制。结果：ＰＣ１２细胞上ＩＡＣｈ是通过烟碱受体（ｎＡＣｈＲ）引起的。箝制电压为－８０ｍＶ时,ＡＣｈ（３０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）诱发一内向电流;细胞外灌流同时给予ＡＣｈ和Ｂ（１０－５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）时,Ｂ对ＩＡＣｈ的抑制作用较弱;用Ｂ（１０－５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对细胞进行预处理,可提高Ｂ对ＩＡＣｈ峰值的抑制率,作用呈可逆性、浓度依赖性和非电压依赖性;细胞外用ＲＮＡ合成抑制剂放线菌素Ｄ（４×１０－５～４×１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）或蛋白合成抑制剂放线菌酮（１０－４～１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）孵育细胞１～２ｈ阻断基因机制,但均不影响Ｂ对ＩＡＣｈ的快速抑制作用。结论：Ｂ对ＰＣ１２细胞上ＩＡＣｈ有快速抑制作用,此作用可能是由非基因组机制介导的。     

大鼠颈上神经节烟碱电流的整流及失敏

在培养的新生大鼠颈上神经节交感神经元标本上,用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体（ｎＡＣｈＲ）通道的整流及失敏现象。烟碱激动剂引起的全细胞电流在膜电位为负值时随膜电位呈线性改变,而在膜电位达＋６０ｍＶ时仍不出现外向电流,表现出强烈的内向整流。ｎＡＣｈＲ通道电流存在失敏现象,即持续恒压喷射激动剂所引起的全细胞电流随时间呈指数衰减,不能保持在峰值水平,失敏随激剂浓度呈量效关系,膜电位的超极化也加     

新霉素抑制PC12细胞烟碱受体介导的反应

新霉素是一种氨基甙类抗生素,在细胞水平可以抑制磷脂酶C介质的信号转导系统,本研究采用全细胞膜片钳技术,以大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞（PC12)为标本,观察了新霉素参考书国酰胆碱诱发电流（IACh)的影响,药理学鉴定表明,PC12细胞上的IACh是通过ACh激动烟碱受体引起的,钳制电压为－80mV时,ACh(30umol/L)诱发一内向电流;细胞外同时给予新霉素（0．01－1mmol/L)和ACh(30μmol/L)可显著抑制IACh峰值,此抑制作用迅速,可逆,呈浓度依赖性,用新霉素预处理细胞3－8min不影响其对IACh的抑制作用,用外源性蛋白激酶C（PKC）激剂激活PKC,同样可抑制IACh,而细胞内透析PKC抑制剂（PKCI19-31,0.1-5μmol/L）不影响新霉素对IACh的抑制作用,以上结果提示,新霉对PC12细胞的IACh的有抑制作用,这是一种与磷脂酶C阻断无关的药理学效应。     

豚鼠I型前庭毛细胞胆碱能受体通道特性

本文旨在探讨豚鼠I型前庭毛细胞上有无胆碱能受体存在,并对其相应的离子通道特性进行研究。应用全细胞膜片钳技术检测急性分离的豚鼠I型前庭毛细胞对乙酰胆碱（acetylcholine,ACh）的反应。结果显示,7．5％（21／279）的I型前庭毛细胞对10-1000μmol／L ACh敏感,引发明显的外向电流。该电流对ACh的反应呈浓度依赖性,半数激活浓度（EC50）为（63.78±2．31）μmol／L,但该电流为非电压依赖性。在-50mV钳制电压和正常细胞外液中,100μmol／L ACh激活-持久缓慢的外向电流,电流幅值为（170±15）pA,该电流幅值依赖于胞外钙离子浓度,可被胞外给予的钙依赖性钾通道拮抗剂TEA阻断。I型前庭毛细胞的再次激活时间不小于1min。长时间暴露在ACh的情况下,受体离子通道不会发生自发性关闭。以上结果提示,部分豚鼠I型前庭毛细胞上存在胆碱能受体,胞外给予ACh可激活-持久缓慢的外向电流,其胆碱能受体通道对于ACh的作用呈浓度依赖性和外钙依赖性、非电压依赖性或失敏性。本研究结果对于阐明前庭传出神经的功能及其作用机制,证实并揭示I型前庭毛细胞上存在传出神经递质受体以及日后临床指导眩晕疾病的康复治疗具有重要的意义。     

ACh受体在皮质酮引起的大鼠延髓腹外侧区前交感神经元反应中的作用

目的：研究乙酰胆碱（ACh)受体在皮质酮（CORT）对大鼠头端延髓腹外侧区（RVLM）前交感神经元快速效应中的作用,探讨糖皮质激素在交感心血管活动调节中的非基因组机制。方法：本研究采用细胞外记录和微电泳等方法观察CORT对氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉大鼠RVLM前交感神经元的作用,观察分别给予ACh受体拮抗剂阿托品（ATR）、筒箭毒（d-TC)或六烃季铵（C6）后CORT对RVLM前交感神经元的影响。结果：在RVLM共记录到33个前交感神经元,CORT能导致25（76％）个前交感神经元快速兴奋,且具有剂量依赖性,余8个前交感神经元没有反应;其中被CORT兴奋的10个单位微电泳ART后神经元的放电明显下降,但对CORT导致的兴奋作用没有明显的影响。分别向7和6个被CORT兴奋的前交感神经元微电泳d-TC和C6后,单位放电没有变化,同时对CORT导致的兴奋作用无影响。结论：CORT对RVLM前交感神经元具有快速的兴奋作用,这种作用可能并不通过ACh受体介导。     

培养的新生大鼠交感神经元膜电学性质及电压门控通道的膜片箝研究

在培养的新生大鼠颈上神经节交感神经元标本上,用全细胞电流箝及电压箝技术观察记录了交感神经元膜电学参数及电压门控性通道电流。用全细胞电流箝测得下列平均值：静息电位,－５１±６ｍＶ;输入阻抗,１４３２±３８９ＭΩ;时间常数,１３０±３２ｍｓ;动作电位幅度,９６±１０ｍＶ,超射值,４２±６ｍＶ。培养早期即可记录到自发或诱发的动作电位,大多数动作电位后跟随快或慢的后超极化电位。在电压箝状态下可分别记录到电压门控钠、钾、钙通道电流。钾电流以延迟整流型为主,钙电流只有高电压激活,缓慢失活的Ｌ或Ｎ型,未能记录到低电压激活,快速失活的Ｔ型钙电流。     

培养大鼠颈上神经节单烟碱受体通道及突触电流的膜片钳研究

在培养１─２周的大鼠颈上神经节交感神经元标本上,用膜片钳技术记录了单烟碱受体通道电流及胆碱能突触电流,并分析了它们之间的关系。单烟碱受体通道至少有三种亚导状态,即１５ｐＳ,２７ｐＳ,３８ｐＳ,其中以２７ｐＳ最常见。通道有两种开放模式,即单个短促开放与长串开放。对应的平均开放时间分别为τ＿１＝１．７１ｍｓ,τ＿２＝１２．２４ｍｓ。对自发突触电流的分析表明,其下降相的衰减时间常数（τ＝１５．７±１ｍｓ）与上述长串开放的持续时间相当,提示在突触传递过程中,突触前末梢释放的ＡＣｈ引起了突触后神经元烟碱受体通道的长串开放。     

非洲爪蟾卵母细胞GABAB和GABAc受体介导的电流反应

实验应用双电极电压箝技术,在具有滤泡膜的非洲爪蟾(Xenopuslaevis)卵母细胞上记录到γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyricacid,GABA)-激活电流。此GABA-激活电流的特点及有关GABA受体类型的研究和分析如下(1)在35.5%(55/155)的受检细胞外加GABA可引起一慢的浓度依赖性的外向电流。(2)GABAA受体的选择性拮抗剂bicuculline(10     

豚鼠Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞胆碱能受体通道特性

本文旨在探讨豚鼠Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞上有无胆碱能受体存在,并对其相应的离子通道特性进行研究.应用全细胞膜片钳技术检测急性分离的豚鼠Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞对乙酰胆碱(acetylcholine, ACh)的反应.结果显示,7.5%(21/279)的Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞对10～1000μmol/L ACh敏感,引发明显的外向电流.该电流对ACh的反应呈浓度依赖性,半数激活浓度(EC50)为(63.78±2.31)μmol/L,但该电流为非电压依赖性.在-50mV钳制电压和正常细胞外液中,100μmol/L ACh激活一持久缓慢的外向电流,电流幅值为(170±15)pA,该电流幅值依赖于胞外钙离子浓度,可被胞外给予的钙依赖性钾通道拮抗剂TEA阻断.Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞的再次激活时间不小于1min.长时间暴露在ACh的情况下,受体离子通道不会发生自发性关闭.以上结果提示,部分豚鼠Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞上存在胆碱能受体,胞外给予ACh可激活一持久缓慢的外向电流,其胆碱能受体通道对于ACh的作用呈浓度依赖性和外钙依赖性、非电压依赖性或失敏性.本研究结果对于阐明前庭传出神经的功能及其作用机制,证实并揭示Ⅰ型前庭毛细胞上存在传出神经递质受体以及日后临床指导眩晕疾病的康复治疗具有重要的意义.     

Ubiquilin-1 regulates nicotine-induced up-regulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Chronic exposure to nicotine, as in tobacco smoking, up-regulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptor surface expression in neurons. This up-regulation has been proposed to play a role in nicotine addiction and withdrawal. The regulatory mechanisms behind nicotine-induced up-regulation of surface nicotinic acetylcholine receptors remain to be determined. It has recently been suggested that nicotine stimulation acts through increased assembly and maturation of receptor subunits into functional pentameric receptors. Studies of muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors suggest that the availability of unassembled subunits in the endoplasmic reticulum can be regulated by the ubiquitin-proteosome pathway, resulting in altered surface expression. Here, we describe a role for ubiquilin-1, a ubiquitin-like protein with the capacity to interact with both the proteosome and ubiquitin ligases, in regulating nicotine-induced up-regulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Ubiquilin-1 interacts with unassembled alpha3 and alpha4 subunits when coexpressed in heterologous cells and interacts with endogenous nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neurons. Coexpression of ubiquilin-1 and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in heterologous cells dramatically reduces the expression of the receptors on the cell surface. In cultured superior cervical ganglion neurons, expression of ubiquilin-1 abolishes nicotine-induced up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors but has no effect on the basal level of surface receptors. Coimmunostaining shows that the interaction of ubiquilin-1 with the alpha3 subunit draws the receptor subunit and proteosome into a complex. These data suggest that ubiquilin-1 limits the availability of unassembled nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in neurons by drawing them to the proteosome, thus regulating nicotine-induced up-regulation.     

Nicotinic Agonists Regulate α-Bungarotoxin Binding Sites of TE671 Human Medulloblastoma Cells

The TE671 human medulloblastoma cell line expresses a variety of characteristics of human neurons. Among these characteristics is the expression of membrane-bound high-affinity binding sites for alpha-bungarotoxin, which is a potent antagonist of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on these cells. These toxin binding sites represent a class of nicotinic receptor isotypes present in mammalian brain. Treatment of TE671 cells during proliferative growth phase with nicotine or carbamylcholine, but not with muscarine or d-tubocurarine, induced up to a five-fold increase in the density of radiolabeled toxin binding sites in crude membrane fractions. This effect was blocked by co-incubation with the nicotinic antagonists d-tubocurarine and decamethonium, but not by mecamylamine or by muscarinic antagonists. Following a 10-13 h lag phase upon removal of agonist, recovery of the up-regulated sites to control values occurred within an additional 10-20 h. These studies indicate that the expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on TE671 cells is subject to regulation by nicotinic agonists. Studies of the murine CNS have consistently indicated nicotine-induced up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby supporting the identification of the toxin binding site on these cells as the functional nicotinic receptor. Although a mechanism for this effect is not apparent, nicotine-induced receptor blockade does not appear to be involved.     

Memantine inhibits α3β2-nAChRs-mediated nitrergic neurogenic vasodilation in porcine basilar arteries

Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is known to block the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study, we examined by wire myography if memantine inhibited α3β2-nAChRs located on cerebral perivascular sympathetic nerve terminals originating in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), thus, leading to inhibition of nicotine-induced nitrergic neurogenic dilation of isolated porcine basilar arteries. Memantine concentration-dependently blocked nicotine-induced neurogenic dilation of endothelium-denuded basilar arteries without affecting that induced by transmural nerve stimulation, sodium nitroprusside, or isoproterenol. Furthermore, memantine significantly inhibited nicotine-elicited inward currents in Xenopous oocytes expressing α3β2-, α7- or α4β2-nAChR, and nicotine-induced calcium influx in cultured rat SCG neurons. These results suggest that memantine is a non-specific antagonist for nAChR. By directly inhibiting α3β2-nAChRs located on the sympathetic nerve terminals, memantine blocks nicotine-induced neurogenic vasodilation of the porcine basilar arteries. This effect of memantine is expected to reduce the blood supply to the brain stem and possibly other brain regions, thus, decreasing its clinical efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Three different vasoactive responses of rat tail artery to nicotine

The vasoactive effects of nicotine on isolated rat tail artery tissues were studied. Nicotine transiently contracted rat tail artery tissues (EC50, 55.6 +/- 2 microM) in an extracellular Ca2+ dependent and endothelium-independent fashion. The blockade of alpha1-adrenoceptors, but not alpha2-adrenoceptors or P2X purinoceptors, inhibited the nicotine-induced contraction by 38 +/- 7% (p < 0.05). Nicotine (1 mM) depolarized membrane by 13 +/- 3 mV, but did not affect L-type Ca2+ channel currents, of the isolated rat tail artery smooth muscle cells. The phenylephrine-precontracted tail artery tissues were relaxed by nicotine (EC50, 0.90 +/- 0.31 mM), which was significantly inhibited after the blockade of nicotinic receptors. Simultaneous removal of phenylephrine and nicotine, after a complete relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted tail artery strips was achieved by nicotine at accumulated concentrations (> or =10 mM), triggered a Ca2+-dependent rebound long-lasting vasoconstriction (n = 20). This rebound contraction was abolished in the absence of calcium or in the presence of tetracaine in the bath solution. Pretreatment of vascular tissues with a nicotinic receptor antagonist did not affect the nicotine-induced vasoconstriction or nicotine withdrawal induced rebound contraction. The elucidation of the triphasic vascular effects of nicotine and the underlying mechanisms is important for a better understanding of the complex vascular actions of nicotine.     

Presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the myenteric plexus of guinea pig intestine

Presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were studied in myenteric plexus preparations from guinea pig ileum using intracellular electrophysiological methods. Microapplication of nicotine (1 mM) caused a biphasic depolarization in all AH neurons (n = 30) and in 36 of 49 S neurons. Cytisine (1 mM) caused fast depolarizations in S neurons and no response in AH neurons. Mecamylamine (10 microM) blocked all responses caused by nicotine and cytisine. TTX (0.3 microM) blocked slow excitatory synaptic potentials in S and AH neurons but had no effect on fast depolarizations caused by nicotine. Nicotine-induced slow depolarizations were reduced by TTX in two of twelve AH neurons (79% inhibition) and four of nine S neurons (90+/-12% inhibition). Slow nicotine-induced depolarizations in the remaining neurons were TTX resistant. TTX-resistant slow depolarizations were inhibited after neurokinin receptor 3 desensitization caused by senktide (0.1 microM); senktide desensitization inhibited the slow nicotine-induced depolarization by 81+/-5% and 63+/-15% in AH and S neurons, respectively. A low-calcium and high-magnesium solution blocked nicotine-induced slow depolarizations in AH neurons. In conclusion, presynaptic nAChRs mediate the release of substance P and/or neurokinin A to cause slow depolarizations of myenteric neurons.     

Monoamine uptake inhibitors block alpha7-nAChR-mediated cerebral nitrergic neurogenic vasodilation

We have proposed that activation of cerebral perivascular sympathetic alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7-nAChRs) by nicotinic agonists releases norepinephrine, which then acts on parasympathetic nitrergic nerves, resulting in release of nitric oxide and vasodilation. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro tissue bath myography, we tested this axo-axonal interaction hypothesis further by examining whether blocking norepinephrine reuptake enhanced alpha7-nAChR-mediated cerebral nitrergic neurogenic vasodilation. The results indicated that choline- and nicotine-induced alpha7-nAChR-mediated nitrergic neurogenic relaxation in endothelium-denuded isolated porcine basilar artery rings was enhanced by desipramine and imipramine at lower concentrations (0.03-0.1 microM) but inhibited at higher concentrations (0.3-10 microM). In cultured superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons of the pig and rat, choline (0.1-30 mM)-evoked inward currents were reversibly blocked by 1-30 microM mecamylamine, 1-30 microM methyllycaconitine, 10-300 nM alpha-bungarotoxin, and 0.1-10 microM desipramine and imipramine, providing electrophysiological evidence for the presence of similar functional alpha7-nAChRs in cerebral perivascular sympathetic neurons of pigs and rats. In alpha7-nAChR-expressing Xenopus oocytes, choline-elicited inward currents were attenuated by alpha-bungarotoxin, imipramine, and desipramine. These monoamine uptake inhibitors appeared to directly block the alpha7-nAChR, resulting in diminished nicotinic agonist-induced cerebral nitrergic vasodilation. The enhanced nitrergic vasodilation by lower concentrations of monoamine uptake inhibitors is likely due to a greater effect on monoamine uptake than on alpha7-nAChR blockade. These results further support the hypothesis of axo-axonal interaction in nitrergic regulation of cerebral vascular tone.     

Action of ethanol on responses to nicotine from cerebellar Purkinje neurons: relationship to methyllycaconitine (MLA) inhibition of nicotine responses.

The effect of ethanol on responses to nicotine from rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons was investigated using extracellular single-unit recording. Systemic administration of ethanol initially enhanced the nicotine-induced inhibition from 50% of the Purkinje neurons. However, irrespective of whether there was an initial enhancement, systemic administration of ethanol antagonized the response to nicotine from the majority of Purkinje neurons. When varying ethanol concentrations were electro-osmotically applied to this neuronal cell type, the responses to nicotine (6/8) were enhanced when a low concentration of ethanol (40 mM) was in the pipette, whereas the majority of nicotine responses (10/11) were antagonized when a higher concentration of ethanol (160 mM) was applied to Purkinje neurons. Thus, the concentration of ethanol presented to the neuron seemed to explain the biphasic consequence of systemically administered ethanol on responses to nicotine. In order to determine whether ethanol affected a specific nACh receptor subtype containing the alpha-7 subunit, it was initially established that the nicotinic antagonists, alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) and methyllycaconitine (MLA), which are associated with this subunit, had identical actions on responses to nicotine from Purkinje neurons. When MLA was tested against responses to nicotine from this cell type, MLA antagonized the response to nicotine from 45% (9/20) of the neurons tested. In a direct comparison of the action of ethanol to inhibit responses to nicotine with the action of MLA on the same Purkinje neuron, ethanol inhibited responses to nicotine on all neurons sensitive to MLA. However, ethanol also affected nicotine-induced neural changes from some Purkinje neurons not sensitive to MLA antagonism of nicotine. These data support the supposition that ethanol affects a nACh receptor subtype which has an alpha-7 subunit as well as other nACh receptor subtypes without this specific subunit.     

Ghrelin amplifies the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat striatum

The orexigenic peptide ghrelin plays a prominent role in the regulation of energy balance and in the mediation of reward mechanisms and reinforcement for addictive drugs, such as nicotine. Nicotine is the principal psychoactive component in tobacco, which is responsible for addiction and relapse of smokers. Nicotine activates the mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchR). Ghrelin stimulates the dopaminergic neurons via growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R1A) in the ventral tegmental area and the substantia nigra pars compacta resulting in the release of dopamine in the ventral and dorsal striatum, respectively. In the present study an in vitro superfusion of rat striatal slices was performed, in order to investigate the direct action of ghrelin on the striatal dopamine release and the interaction of ghrelin with nicotine through this neurotransmitter release. Ghrelin increased significantly the dopamine release from the rat striatum following electrical stimulation. This stimulatory effect was reversed by both the selective nAchR antagonist mecamylamine and the selective GHS-R1A antagonist GHRP-6. Nicotine also increased significantly the dopamine release under the same conditions. This stimulatory effect was antagonized by mecamylamine, but not by GHRP-6. Ghrelin further stimulated the nicotine-induced dopamine release and this effect was abolished by mecamylamine and was partially inhibited by GHRP-6. The present results demonstrate that ghrelin stimulates directly the dopamine release and amplifies the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat striatum. We presume that striatal cholinergic interneurons also express GHS-R1A, through which ghrelin can amplify the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the striatum. This study provides further evidence of the impact of ghrelin on the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways. It also suggests that ghrelin signaling may serve as a novel pharmacological target for treatment of addictive and neurodegenerative disorders.     

Nicotine suppresses hyperexcitability of colonic sensory neurons and visceral hypersensivity in mouse model of colonic inflammation

Recently, we reported that nicotine in vitro at a low 1-μM concentration suppresses hyperexcitability of colonic dorsal root ganglia (DRG; L(1)-L(2)) neurons in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse model of acute colonic inflammation (1). Here we show that multiple action potential firing in colonic DRG neurons persisted at least for 3 wk post-DSS administration while the inflammatory signs were diminished. Similar to that in DSS-induced acute colitis, bath-applied nicotine (1 μM) gradually reduced regenerative multiple-spike action potentials in colonic DRG neurons to a single action potential in 3 wk post-DSS neurons. Nicotine (1 μM) shifted the activation curve for tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant sodium currents in inflamed colonic DRG neurons (voltage of half-activation changed from -37 to -32 mV) but did not affect TTX-sensitive currents in control colonic DRG neurons. Further, subcutaneous nicotine administration (2 mg/kg b.i.d.) in DSS-treated C57Bl/J6 male mice resulted in suppression of hyperexcitability of colonic DRG (L(1)-L(2)) neurons and the number of abdominal constrictions in response to intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid. Collectively, the data suggest that neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated suppression of hyperexcitability of colonic DRG neurons attenuates reduction of visceral hypersensitivity in DSS mouse model of colonic inflammation.     

In Vivo Regulation of [3H]Acetylcholine Recognition Sites in Brain by Nicotinic Cholinergic Drugs

The in vivo regulation of [3H]acetylcholine [( 3H]ACh) recognition sites on nicotinic receptors in rat brain was examined by administering drugs that increase stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors, either directly or indirectly. After 10 days of treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor diisopropyl fluorophosphate, [3H]ACh binding in the cortex, thalamus, striatum, and hypothalamus was decreased. Scatchard analyses indicated that the decrease in binding in the cortex was due to a reduction in the apparent density of [3H]ACh recognition sites. In contrast, after repeated administration of nicotine (5-21 days), the number of [3H]ACh recognition sites was increased in the cortex, thalamus, striatum, and hypothalamus. Similar effects were observed in the cortex and thalamus following repeated administration of the nicotinic agonist cytisin. The nicotinic antagonists mecamylamine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine did not alter [3H]ACh binding following 10-14 days of administration. Further, concurrent treatment with these antagonists and nicotine did not prevent the nicotine-induced increase in these binding sites. The data indicate that [3H]ACh recognition sites on nicotinic receptors are subject to up- and down-regulation, and that repeated administration of nicotine results in a signal for up-regulation, probably through protracted desensitization at the recognition site.