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Gao R, Schneider AM, Mulloy SM, Lee AM. Expression pattern of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit transcripts in neurons and astrocytes in the ventral tegmental area and locus coeruleus. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2225-2239. [PMID: 37539749 PMCID: PMC10838369 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Acetylcholine is the endogenous agonist for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system, which is involved in attention, memory, affective behaviours and substance use disorders. Brain nAChRs are highly diverse with 11 different subunits that can form multiple receptor subtypes, each with distinct receptor and pharmacological properties. Different neuronal cell types can also express different nAChR subtypes, resulting in highly complex cholinergic signalling. Identifying which nAChR subunit transcripts are expressed in cell types can provide an indication of which nAChR combinations are possible and which receptor subtypes may be most pharmacologically relevant to target. In addition to differences in expression across cell types, nAChRs also undergo changes in expression levels from adolescence to adulthood. In this study, we used fluorescent in situ hybridization to identify and quantify the expression of α4, α5, α6, β2 and β3 nAChR subunit transcripts in dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic and noradrenergic neurons and astrocytes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) in adult and adolescent, male and female C57BL/6J mice. There were distinct differences in the pattern of nAChR subunit transcript expression between the two brain regions. LC noradrenergic neurons had high prevalence of α6, β2 and β3 expression, with very low expression of α4, suggesting the α6(non-α4)β2β3 receptor as a main subtype in these neurons. VTA astrocytes from adult mice showed greater prevalence of α5, α6, β2 and β3 transcript compared with adolescent mice. These data highlight the complex nAChR expression patterns across brain region and cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runbo Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amelia M. Schneider
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah M. Mulloy
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Anna M. Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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2
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Abstract
Over 2.6 million adults over the age of 65 develop delirium each year in the United States (US). Delirium is associated with a significant increase in mortality and the US health care costs associated with delirium are estimated at over $164 billion annually. Despite the prevalence of the condition, the molecular pathophysiology of delirium remains unexplained, limiting the development of pharmacotherapies. Delirious patients can be identified by prominent impairments in attention and working memory (WM), two cognitive domains that localize to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). The dlPFC is also a key site for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, and given the high risk of delirium in AD patients, suggests that efforts at understanding delirium might focus on the dlPFC as a final common endpoint for cognitive changes. Preclinical studies of the dlPFC reproduce many of the pharmacological observations made of delirious patients, including sensitivity to anticholinergics and an 'inverted U' pattern of dependence on monoaminergic input, with diminished performance outside a narrow range of signaling. Medications like guanfacine, which influence the dlPFC in the context of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), have emerged as therapies for delirium and motivate a detailed understanding of the influence of α-2 agonists on WM. In this review, I will discuss the neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms underlying WM and the function of the dlPFC. Localizing the cognitive deficits that are commonly seen in delirious patients may help identify new molecular targets for this highly prevalent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Lyman
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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3
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Cantone AF, Burgaletto C, Di Benedetto G, Pannaccione A, Secondo A, Bellanca CM, Augello E, Munafò A, Tarro P, Bernardini R, Cantarella G. Taming Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: Exploring Potential Implications of Choline Alphoscerate via α7 nAChR Modulation. Cells 2024; 13:309. [PMID: 38391922 PMCID: PMC10886565 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), marked by cognitive impairment, predominantly affects the brain regions regulated by cholinergic innervation, such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Cholinergic dysfunction, a key contributor to age-related cognitive decline, has spurred investigations into potential therapeutic interventions. We have previously shown that choline alphoscerate (α-GPC), a cholinergic neurotransmission-enhancing agent, protects from Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity. Herein, we investigated the effects of α-GPC on the microglial phenotype in response to Aβ via modulation of the nicotinic alpha-7 acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). BV2 microglial cells were pre-treated for 1 h with α-GPC and were treated for 24, 48, and 72 h with Aβ1-42 and/or α-BTX, a selective α7nAchR antagonist. Fluorescent immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that α-GPC was able to antagonize Aβ-induced inflammatory effects. Of note, α-GPC exerted its anti-inflammatory effect by directly activating the α7nAChR receptor, as suggested by the induction of an increase in [Ca2+]i and Ach-like currents. Considering that cholinergic transmission appears crucial in regulating the inflammatory profiles of glial cells, its modulation emerges as a potential pharmaco-therapeutic target to improve outcomes in inflammatory neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Flavia Cantone
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Chiara Burgaletto
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulia Di Benedetto
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Clinical Toxicology Unit, University Hospital of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Anna Pannaccione
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Agnese Secondo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Carlo Maria Bellanca
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Clinical Toxicology Unit, University Hospital of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Egle Augello
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Antonio Munafò
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Paola Tarro
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Renato Bernardini
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Clinical Toxicology Unit, University Hospital of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Cantarella
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.F.C.); (C.B.); (C.M.B.); (E.A.); (A.M.); (P.T.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
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Mahrach A, Bestue D, Qi XL, Constantinidis C, Compte A. Cholinergic neuromodulation of prefrontal attractor dynamics controls performance in spatial working memory. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.17.576071. [PMID: 38293215 PMCID: PMC10827212 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.17.576071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The behavioral and neural effects of the endogenous release of acetylcholine following stimulation of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert (NB) have been recently examined (Qi et al. 2021). Counterintuitively, NB stimulation enhanced behavioral performance while broadening neural tuning in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The mechanism by which a weaker mnemonic neural code could lead to better performance remains unclear. Here, we show that increased neural excitability in a simple continuous bump attractor model can induce broader neural tuning and decrease bump diffusion, provided neural rates are saturated. Increased memory precision in the model overrides memory accuracy, improving overall task performance. Moreover, we show that bump attractor dynamics can account for the nonuniform impact of neuromodulation on distractibility, depending on distractor distance from the target. Finally, we delve into the conditions under which bump attractor tuning and diffusion balance in biologically plausible heterogeneous network models. In these discrete bump attractor networks, we show that reducing spatial correlations or enhancing excitatory transmission can improve memory precision. Altogether, we provide a mechanistic understanding of how cholinergic neuromodulation controls spatial working memory through perturbed attractor dynamics in PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Mahrach
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Bestue
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xue-Lian Qi
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | | | - Albert Compte
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Zhang JJ, Fu H, Lin R, Zhou J, Haider A, Fang W, Elghazawy NH, Rong J, Chen J, Li Y, Ran C, Collier TL, Chen Z, Liang SH. Imaging Cholinergic Receptors in the Brain by Positron Emission Tomography. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10889-10916. [PMID: 37583063 PMCID: PMC10461233 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Cholinergic receptors represent a promising class of diagnostic and therapeutic targets due to their significant involvement in cognitive decline associated with neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cardiovascular impairment. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive molecular imaging tool that has helped to shed light on the roles these receptors play in disease development and their diverse functions throughout the central nervous system (CNS). In recent years, there has been a notable advancement in the development of PET probes targeting cholinergic receptors. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the development of these PET probes for cholinergic receptors with a specific focus on ligand structure, radiochemistry, and pharmacology as well as in vivo performance and applications in neuroimaging. The review covers the structural design, pharmacological properties, radiosynthesis approaches, and preclinical and clinical evaluations of current state-of-the-art PET probes for cholinergic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Zhang
- Jiangsu
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest
Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization
of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels
and Chemicals, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals
and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Hualong Fu
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Key
Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College
of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ruofan Lin
- Jiangsu
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest
Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization
of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels
and Chemicals, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals
and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Jingyin Zhou
- Key
Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College
of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Weiwei Fang
- Jiangsu
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest
Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization
of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels
and Chemicals, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals
and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Nehal H. Elghazawy
- Department
of Pharmaceutical, Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jian Rong
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Jiahui Chen
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Yinlong Li
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula
A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Thomas L. Collier
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Zhen Chen
- Jiangsu
Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest
Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization
of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels
and Chemicals, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals
and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Steven H. Liang
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
& Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, 1364 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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Bava JM, Wang Z, Bick SK, Englot DJ, Constantinidis C. Improving Visual Working Memory with Cholinergic Deep Brain Stimulation. Brain Sci 2023; 13:917. [PMID: 37371395 PMCID: PMC10296349 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine is a critical modulatory neurotransmitter for cognitive function. Cholinergic drugs improve cognitive performance and enhance neuronal activity in the sensory and association cortices. An alternative means of improving cognitive function is through the use of deep brain stimulation. Prior animal studies have demonstrated that stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert through DBS improves cognitive performance on a visual working memory task to the same degree as cholinesterase inhibitors. Additionally, unlike current pharmacological treatments for neurocognitive disorders, DBS does not lose efficacy over time and adverse effects are rare. These findings suggest that DBS may be a promising alternative for treating cognitive impairments in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Thus, further research and human trials should be considered to assess the potential of DBS as a therapeutic treatment for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janki M. Bava
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
| | - Zhengyang Wang
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Sarah K. Bick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Dario J. Englot
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Christos Constantinidis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.M.B.); (D.J.E.)
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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7
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Echeverria V, Mendoza C, Iarkov A. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and learning and memory deficits in Neuroinflammatory diseases. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1179611. [PMID: 37255751 PMCID: PMC10225599 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1179611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal survival depends on cognitive abilities such as learning and memory to adapt to environmental changes. Memory functions require an enhanced activity and connectivity of a particular arrangement of engram neurons, supported by the concerted action of neurons, glia, and vascular cells. The deterioration of the cholinergic system is a common occurrence in neurological conditions exacerbated by aging such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Cotinine is a cholinergic modulator with neuroprotective, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and memory-enhancing effects. Current evidence suggests Cotinine's beneficial effects on cognition results from the positive modulation of the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the inhibition of the toll-like receptors (TLRs). The α7nAChR affects brain functions by modulating the function of neurons, glia, endothelial, immune, and dendritic cells and regulates inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission throughout the GABA interneurons. In addition, Cotinine acting on the α7 nAChRs and TLR reduces neuroinflammation by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the immune cells. Also, α7nAChRs stimulate signaling pathways supporting structural, biochemical, electrochemical, and cellular changes in the Central nervous system during the cognitive processes, including Neurogenesis. Here, the mechanisms of memory formation as well as potential mechanisms of action of Cotinine on memory preservation in aging and neurological diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Echeverria
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
- Research and Development Department, Bay Pines VAHCS, Bay Pines, FL, United States
| | - Cristhian Mendoza
- Facultad de Odontologia y Ciencias de la Rehabilitacion, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Alex Iarkov
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
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Upright NA, Baxter MG. Effects of nicotinic antagonists on working memory performance in young rhesus monkeys. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 184:107505. [PMID: 34425219 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Acetylcholine plays a pivotal neuromodulatory role in the brain, influencing neuronal activity and cognitive function. Nicotinic receptors, particularly α7 and α4β2 receptors, modulate firing of dorsolateral prefrontal (dlPFC) excitatory networks that underlie successful working memory function. Minimal work however has been done examining working memory following systemic blockade of nicotinic receptor systems in nonhuman primates, limiting the ability to explore interactions of other neuromodulatory influences with working memory impairment caused by nicotinic antagonism. In this study, we investigated working memory performance after administering three nicotinic antagonists, mecamylamine, methyllycaconitine, and dihydro-β-erythroidine, in rhesus macaques tested in a spatial delayed response task. Surprisingly, we found that no nicotinic antagonist significantly impaired delayed response performance compared to vehicle. In contrast, the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine reliably impaired delayed response performance in all monkeys tested. These findings suggest there are some limitations on using systemic nicotinic antagonists to probe the involvement of nicotinic receptors in aspects of dlPFC-dependent working memory function, necessitating alternative strategies to understand the role of this system in cognitive deficits seen in aging and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Upright
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Mark G Baxter
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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9
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Vijayraghavan S, Everling S. Neuromodulation of Persistent Activity and Working Memory Circuitry in Primate Prefrontal Cortex by Muscarinic Receptors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:648624. [PMID: 33790746 PMCID: PMC8005543 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.648624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation by acetylcholine plays a vital role in shaping the physiology and functions of cerebral cortex. Cholinergic neuromodulation influences brain-state transitions, controls the gating of cortical sensory stimulus responses, and has been shown to influence the generation and maintenance of persistent activity in prefrontal cortex. Here we review our current understanding of the role of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in primate prefrontal cortex during its engagement in the performance of working memory tasks. We summarize the localization of muscarinic receptors in prefrontal cortex, review the effects of muscarinic neuromodulation on arousal, working memory and cognitive control tasks, and describe the effects of muscarinic M1 receptor stimulation and blockade on the generation and maintenance of persistent activity of prefrontal neurons encoding working memory representations. Recent studies describing the pharmacological effects of M1 receptors on prefrontal persistent activity demonstrate the heterogeneity of muscarinic actions and delineate unexpected modulatory effects discovered in primate prefrontal cortex when compared with studies in rodents. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which muscarinic receptors regulate prefrontal cognitive control circuitry will inform the search of muscarinic-based therapeutic targets in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel Vijayraghavan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stefan Everling
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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