Pharmacological characterization of a nicotinic autoreceptor in rat hippocampal synaptosomes

The Cholinergic System as a Treatment Target for Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid overdoses recently became the leading cause of accidental death in the US, marking an increase in the severity of the opioid use disorder (OUD) epidemic that is impacting global health. Current treatment protocols for OUD are limited to opioid medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. While these medications are effective in many cases, new treatments are required to more effectively address the rising societal and interpersonal costs associated with OUD. In this article, we review the opioid and cholinergic systems, and examine the potential of acetylcholine (ACh) as a treatment target for OUD. The cholinergic system includes enzymes that synthesize and degrade ACh and receptors that mediate the effects of ACh. ACh is involved in many central nervous system functions that are critical to the development and maintenance of OUD, such as reward and cognition. Medications that target the cholinergic system have been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, tobacco use disorder, and nausea. Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and scopolamine, which target components of the cholinergic system, show promise for the treatment of OUD and further investigations are warranted.

Alzheimer's disease: Targeting the Cholinergic System

Acetylcholine (ACh) has a crucial role in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is responsible for synthesizing ACh from acetyl-CoA and choline in the cytoplasm and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) uptakes the neurotransmitter into synaptic vesicles. Following depolarization, ACh undergoes exocytosis reaching the synaptic cleft, where it can bind its receptors, including muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. ACh present at the synaptic cleft is promptly hydrolyzed by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), forming acetate and choline, which is recycled into the presynaptic nerve terminal by the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT1). Cholinergic neurons located in the basal forebrain, including the neurons that form the nucleus basalis of Meynert, are severely lost in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the most ordinary cause of dementia affecting 25 million people worldwide. The hallmarks of the disease are the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. However, there is no real correlation between levels of cortical plaques and AD-related cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, synaptic loss is the principal correlate of disease progression and loss of cholinergic neurons contributes to memory and attention deficits. Thus, drugs that act on the cholinergic system represent a promising option to treat AD patients.

Attenuation in rats of impairments of memory by scopolamine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist

RATIONALE

Scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, impairs learning and memory for many tasks, supporting an important role for the cholinergic system in these cognitive functions. The findings are most often interpreted to indicate that a decrease in postsynaptic muscarinic receptor activation mediates the memory impairments. However, scopolamine also results in increased release of acetylcholine in the brain as a result of blocking presynaptic muscarinic receptors.

OBJECTIVES

The present experiments assess whether scopolamine-induced increases in acetylcholine release may impair memory by overstimulating postsynaptic cholinergic nicotinic receptors, i.e., by reaching the high end of a nicotinic receptor activation inverted-U dose-response function.

RESULTS

Rats tested in a spontaneous alternation task showed dose-dependent working memory deficits with systemic injections of mecamylamine and scopolamine. When an amnestic dose of scopolamine (0.15 mg/kg) was co-administered with a subamnestic dose of mecamylamine (0.25 mg/kg), this dose of mecamylamine significantly attenuated the scopolamine-induced memory impairments. We next assessed the levels of acetylcholine release in the hippocampus in the presence of scopolamine and mecamylamine. Mecamylamine injections resulted in decreased release of acetylcholine, while scopolamine administration caused a large increase in acetylcholine release.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that a nicotinic antagonist can attenuate impairments in memory produced by a muscarinic antagonist. The nicotinic antagonist may block excessive activation of nicotinic receptors postsynaptically or attenuate increases in acetylcholine release presynaptically. Either effect of a nicotinic antagonist-to decrease scopolamine-induced increases in acetylcholine output or to decrease postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor activation-may mediate the negative effects on memory of muscarinic antagonists.

Nicotinic modulation of hippocampal cell signaling and associated effects on learning and memory

The hippocampus is a key brain structure involved in synaptic plasticity associated with long-term declarative memory formation. Importantly, nicotine and activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) can alter hippocampal plasticity and these changes may occur through modulation of hippocampal kinases and transcription factors. Hippocampal kinases such as cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CAMKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and c-jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), and the transcription factor cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) that are activated either directly or indirectly by nicotine may modulate hippocampal plasticity and in parallel hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Evidence suggests that nicotine may alter hippocampus-dependent learning by changing the time and magnitude of activation of kinases and transcription factors normally involved in learning and by recruiting additional cell signaling molecules. Understanding how nicotine alters learning and memory will advance basic understanding of the neural substrates of learning and aid in understanding mental disorders that involve cognitive and learning deficits.

Nicotine modulation of fear memories and anxiety: Implications for learning and anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are a group of crippling mental diseases affecting millions of Americans with a 30% lifetime prevalence and costs associated with healthcare of $42.3 billion. While anxiety disorders show high levels of co-morbidity with smoking (45.3% vs. 22.5% in healthy individuals), they are also more common among the smoking population (22% vs. 11.1% in the non-smoking population). Moreover, there is clear evidence that smoking modulates symptom severity in patients with anxiety disorders. In order to better understand this relationship, several animal paradigms are used to model several key symptoms of anxiety disorders; these include fear conditioning and measures of anxiety. Studies clearly demonstrate that nicotine mediates acquisition and extinction of fear as well as anxiety through the modulation of specific subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in brain regions involved in emotion processing such as the hippocampus. However, the direction of nicotine's effects on these behaviors is determined by several factors that include the length of administration, hippocampus-dependency of the fear learning task, and source of anxiety (novelty-driven vs. social anxiety). Overall, the studies reviewed here suggest that nicotine alters behaviors related to fear and anxiety and that nicotine contributes to the development, maintenance, and reoccurrence of anxiety disorders.

Nicotinic receptors, memory, and hippocampus

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) modulate the neurobiological processes underlying hippocampal learning and memory. In addition, nicotine's ability to desensitize and upregulate certain nAChRs may alter hippocampus-dependent memory processes. Numerous studies have examined the effects of nicotine on hippocampus-dependent learning, as well as the roles of low- and high-affinity nAChRs in mediating nicotine's effects on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. These studies suggested that while acute nicotine generally acts as a cognitive enhancer for hippocampus-dependent learning, withdrawal from chronic nicotine results in deficits in hippocampus-dependent memory. Furthermore, these studies demonstrated that low- and high-affinity nAChRs functionally differ in their involvement in nicotine's effects on hippocampus-dependent learning. In the present chapter, we reviewed studies using systemic or local injections of acute or chronic nicotine, nAChR subunit agonists or antagonists; genetically modified mice; and molecular biological techniques to characterize the effects of nicotine on hippocampus-dependent learning.

Altered acetylcholine release in the hippocampus of dystrophin-deficient mice

Mild cognitive impairments have been described in one-third of patients with Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD). DMD is characterized by progressive and irreversible muscle degeneration caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and lack of the protein expression. Previously, we have reported altered concentrations of α7- and β2-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in hippocampal membranes of dystrophic (mdx) mice. This suggests that alterations in the central cholinergic synapses are associated with dystrophin deficiency. In this study, we examined the release of acetylcholine (ACh) and the level of the vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT) using synaptosomes isolated from brain regions that normally have a high density of dystrophin (cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum), in control and mdx mice at 4 and 12months of age. ACh release evoked by nicotinic stimulation or K(+) depolarization was measured as the tritium outflow from superfused synaptosomes preloaded with [(3)H]-choline. The results showed that the evoked tritium release was Ca(2+)-dependent and mostly formed by [(3)H]-ACh. β2-containing nAChRs were involved in agonist-evoked [(3)H]-ACh release in control and mdx preparations. In hippocampal synaptosomes from 12-month-old mdx mice, nAChR-evoked [(3)H]-ACh release increased by 57% compared to age-matched controls. Moreover, there was a 98% increase in [(3)H]-ACh release compared to 4-month-old mdx mice. [(3)H]-ACh release evoked by K(+) depolarization was not altered, while the VAChT protein level was decreased (19%) compared to that of age-matched controls. In cortical and cerebellar preparations, there was no difference in nAChR-evoked [(3)H]-ACh release and VAChT levels between mdx and age-matched control groups. Our previous findings and the presynaptic alterations observed in the hippocampi of 12-month-old mdx mice indicate possible dysfunction of nicotinic cholinergic synapses associated with dystrophin deficiency. These changes may contribute to the cognitive and behavioral abnormalities described in dystrophic mice and patients with DMD.

Cellular, molecular, and genetic substrates underlying the impact of nicotine on learning

Addiction is a chronic disorder marked by long-lasting maladaptive changes in behavior and in reward system function. However, the factors that contribute to the behavioral and biological changes that occur with addiction are complex and go beyond reward. Addiction involves changes in cognitive control and the development of disruptive drug-stimuli associations that can drive behavior. A reason for the strong influence drugs of abuse can exert on cognition may be the striking overlap between the neurobiological substrates of addiction and of learning and memory, especially areas involved in declarative memory. Declarative memories are critically involved in the formation of autobiographical memories, and the ability of drugs of abuse to alter these memories could be particularly detrimental. A key structure in this memory system is the hippocampus, which is critically involved in binding multimodal stimuli together to form complex long-term memories. While all drugs of abuse can alter hippocampal function, this review focuses on nicotine. Addiction to tobacco products is insidious, with the majority of smokers wanting to quit; yet the majority of those that attempt to quit fail. Nicotine addiction is associated with the presence of drug-context and drug-cue associations that trigger drug seeking behavior and altered cognition during periods of abstinence, which contributes to relapse. This suggests that understanding the effects of nicotine on learning and memory will advance understanding and potentially facilitate treating nicotine addiction. The following sections examine: (1) how the effects of nicotine on hippocampus-dependent learning change as nicotine administration transitions from acute to chronic and then to withdrawal from chronic treatment and the potential impact of these changes on addiction, (2) how nicotine usurps the cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, (3) the physiological changes in the hippocampus that may contribute to nicotine withdrawal deficits in learning, and (4) the role of genetics and developmental stage (i.e., adolescence) in these effects.

The effect of dorsal hippocampal administration of nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic ligands on pentylenetetrazol-induced generalized seizures in rats

In the present study, the effects of intrahippocampal injections of cholinergic ligands on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures were investigated in rats. The rats were assigned to 1 of the following 9 groups: saline, nicotine (0.5 or 1 μg), atropine (0.25 or 1 μg), oxotremorine-M (0.1 or 1 μg), or mecamylamine (2 or 8 μg). Cholinergic ligands were administered via intrahippocampal infusion 30 min before seizure induction (intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg PTZ). Results show that antagonists caused nonsignificant increases in the latency of tonic-clonic seizures, significant decreases in the duration of tonic-clonic seizures, significant decreases in the latency of death, and increases in mortality rate. Agonists led to increases in the duration of tonic-clonic seizures, decreases in the latency of death, and decreases in mortality rate. These results provide compelling evidence that cholinergic ligands show modulatory effects on a PTZ model of acute seizure in the rat hippocampus.

In vitro exposure to nicotine induces endocytosis of presynaptic AMPA receptors modulating dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens nerve terminals

Here we provide functional and immunocytochemical evidence supporting the presence on Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) dopaminergic terminals of cyclothiazide-sensitive, alfa-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolone propionate (AMPA) receptors, which activation causes Ca²⁺-dependent [³H]dopamine ([³H]DA) exocytosis. These AMPA receptors cross-talk with co-localized nicotinic receptors (nAChRs), as suggested by the finding that in vitro short-term pre-exposure of synaptosomes to 30 μM nicotine caused a significant reduction of both the 30 μM nicotine and the 100 μM AMPA-evoked [³H]DA overflow. Entrapping pep2-SVKI, a peptide known to compete for the binding of GluA2 subunit to scaffolding proteins involved in AMPA receptor endocytosis, in NAC synaptosomes prevented the nicotine-induced reduction of AMPA-mediated [³H]DA exocytosis, while pep2-SVKE, used as negative control, was inefficacious. Immunocytochemical studies showed that a significant percentage of NAc terminals were dopaminergic and that most of these terminals also posses GluA2 receptor subunits. Western blot analysis of GluA2 immunoreactivity showed that presynaptic GluA2 proteins in NAc terminals were reduced in nicotine-pretreated synaptosomes when compared to the control. The nACh-AMPA receptor-receptor interaction was not limited to dopaminergic terminals since nicotine pre-exposure also affected the presynaptic AMPA receptors controlling hippocampal noradrenaline release, but not the presynaptic AMPA receptors controlling GABA and acetylcholine release. These observations could be relevant to the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of nicotine rewarding.

Statistical characterization of social interactions and collective behavior in medicinal leeches

In the present study we analyzed the behavior and interactions among leeches in the same observation tank. Colored beads were glued onto their skin so that their behavior could be followed and quantified. When two or three leeches were present in the observation tank, they searched around for a maximum of 2 h and their motion and behavior were independent from those of their conspecifics. When the number of leeches in the tank was increased to 10, leeches were attracted to each other and exhibited episodes of highly correlated behavior. Solitary leeches injected with serotonin or dopamine increased the portion of time spent pseudoswimming and crawling, respectively. The behavior of three to five leeches injected with serotonin was not statistically independent, and leeches were attracted to their conspecifics and exhibited episodes of correlated behavior. Therefore, serotonin not only induces pseudoswimming in leeches but also promotes social interactions, characterized by a mutual attraction and by episodes of correlated/collective behavior.

Neuronal networks of nicotine addiction

Nicotine is the main psychoactive substance present in tobacco, targeting neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The main effects of nicotine associated with smoking are nicotinic receptor activation, desensitization, and upregulation, with the subsequent modulation of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive explanation of their roles that effectively makes clear how nicotine dependence might be established on those grounds. Receptor upregulation is an unusual effect for a drug of abuse, because theoretically this implies less need for drug consumption. Receptor upregulation and receptor desensitization are commonly viewed as opposite, homeostatic mechanisms. We here review the available information on smoking addiction, especially under a recently presented model of nicotine dependence. In this model both receptor upregulation and receptor desensitization are responsible for establishing a biochemical mechanism of nicotine dependence, which have an important role in starting and maintaining tobacco addiction.

Tobacco addiction: a biochemical model of nicotine dependence

Nicotine is the main psychoactive substance present in tobacco, targeting in the CNS the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). The main effects of nicotine associated with smoking are nAChR upregulation, nAChR desensitization and modulation of the dopaminergic system. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive explanation of their roles that effectively makes clear how nicotine dependence might be established on those grounds. Receptor upregulation is an unusual effect for a drug of abuse, because theoretically this implies less need for drug consumption. Receptor upregulation and receptor desensitization are commonly viewed as opposite, homeostatic mechanisms. We here analyze the available information under a model in which both receptor upregulation and receptor desensitization are responsible for establishing a mechanism of nicotine dependence, consequently having an important role in starting and maintaining tobacco addiction. We propose that negative feedbacks on dopamine release regulated by alpha4beta2 nAChRs are disrupted by nicotine. nAChR desensitization is the disrupting mechanism, while nAChR upregulation is the reinforcing process of nicotine dependence, which eventually initiates tobacco addiction. A conclusion of the model is that drugs used for smoking cessation should inhibit preferentially alpha4beta2 nAChRs and to have a low or null ability to upregulate nAChRs, as this characteristic allows the smoker to achieve downregulation without abstinence symptoms. A relationship between this hypothesis and smoking and schizophrenia is also discussed.

Defining pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors regulated by beta amyloid in mouse cortex and hippocampus with receptor null mutants

Disruption of neuronal signaling by soluble beta-amyloid has been implicated in deficits in short-term recall in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. One potential target for beta-amyloid is the synapse, with evidence for differential interaction with both pre- and post-synaptic elements. Our previous work revealed an agonist-like action of soluble beta-amyloid (pM to nM) on isolated pre-synaptic terminals to increase [Ca(2+)]i, with apparent involvement of pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors. To directly establish the role of nicotinic receptors in pre-synaptic Ca(2+) regulation, we investigated the pre-synaptic action of beta-amyloid on terminals isolated from mice harboring either beta2 or alpha7 nicotinic receptor null mutants (knockouts). Average pre-synaptic responses to beta-amyloid in hippocampal terminals of alpha7 knockout mice were unchanged, whereas responses in hippocampal terminals from beta2 knockout mice were strongly attenuated. In contrast, pre-synaptic responses to soluble beta-amyloid were strongly attenuated in cortical terminals from alpha7 knockout mice but were moderately attenuated in cortical terminals from beta2 knockout mice. The latter responses, having distinct kinetics, were completely blocked by alpha-bungarotoxin. The use of receptor null mutants thus permitted direct demonstration of the involvement of specific nicotinic receptors in pre-synaptic Ca(2+) regulation by soluble beta-amyloid, and also indicated differential neuromodulation by beta-amyloid of synapses in hippocampus and cortex.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of nicotine in the CNS

Nicotine achieves its psychopharmacological effects by interacting with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain. There are numerous subtypes of nAChR that differ in their properties, including their sensitivity to nicotine, permeability to calcium and propensity to desensitise. The nAChRs are differentially localised to different brain regions and are found on presynaptic terminals as well as in somatodendritic regions of neurones. Through their permeability to cations, these ion channel proteins can influence both neuronal excitability and cell signalling mechanisms, and these various responses can contribute to the development or maintenance of dependence. However, many questions and uncertainties remain in our understanding of these events and their relevance to tobacco addiction. In this chapter, we briefly overview the fundamental characteristics of nAChRs that are germane to nicotine's effects and then consider the cellular responses to acute and chronic nicotine, with particular emphasis on dopamine systems because they have been the most widely studied in the context of nicotine dependence. Where appropriate, methodological aspects are critically reviewed.

Transdermal nicotine modulates strategy-based attentional semantic processing in non-smokers

Nicotine has been shown to improve various aspects of cognitive processing such as attention and memory, however, its effects on lexical-semantic processing are relatively uncharted. Recent investigations of mnemonic processing in minimally deprived smokers suggest that nicotine might selectively modulate processes concerned with associative memory. This study investigated the effects of nicotine on lexical-semantic processing in non-smokers using a strategy-based lexical-decision priming paradigm. Transdermal nicotine patches (7 mg/24 h) were administered within a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Participants were trained to expect target words to come from a specified semantic category based on the prime word, although in some instances trained expectations were not met. Participants were presented with the stimuli at either a short or long stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) to target automatic and attentional processing, respectively (n=12 and 17 for the short and long SOAs, respectively). Nicotine was found to selectively affect priming condition reaction times at the long SOA, indicating a nicotinic modulation of attentional mechanisms. Specifically, facilitation effects were dominant under placebo compared to a dominance of inhibition effects under nicotine. These results suggest that nicotine supports inhibitory attentional mechanisms in cognitively demanding semantic processing paradigms.

Neurotransmitter receptor heteromers and their integrative role in 'local modules': the striatal spine module

'Local module' is a fundamental functional unit of the central nervous system that can be defined as the minimal portion of one or more neurons and/or one or more glial cells that operates as an independent integrative unit. This review focuses on the importance of neurotransmitter receptor heteromers for the operation of local modules. To illustrate this, we use the striatal spine module (SSM), comprised of the dendritic spine of the medium spiny neuron (MSN), its glutamatergic and dopaminergic terminals and astroglial processes. The SSM is found in the striatum, and although aspects such as neurotransmitters and receptors will be specific to the SSM, some general principles should apply to any local module in the brain. The analysis of some of the receptor heteromers in the SSM shows that receptor heteromerization is associated with particular elaborated functions in this local module. Adenosine A(2A) receptor-dopamine D(2) receptor-glutamate metabotropic mGlu(5) receptor heteromers are located adjacent to the glutamatergic synapse of the dendritic spine of the enkephalin MSN, and their cross-talk within the receptor heteromers helps to modulate postsynaptic plastic changes at the glutamatergic synapse. A(1) receptor-A(2A) receptor heteromers are found in the glutamatergic terminals and the molecular cross-talk between the two receptors in the heteromer helps to modulate glutamate release. Finally, dopamine D(2) receptor-non-alpha(7) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor heteromers, which are located in dopaminergic terminals, introduce the new concept of autoreceptor heteromer.

The subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dopaminergic terminals of mouse striatum

This review summarizes studies that attempted to determine the subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) expressed in the dopaminergic nerve terminals in the mouse. A variety of experimental approaches has been necessary to reach current knowledge of these subtypes, including in situ hybridization, agonist and antagonist binding, function measured by neurotransmitter release from synaptosomal preparations, and immunoprecipitation by selective antibodies. Early developments that facilitated this effort include the radioactive labeling of selective binding agents, such as [(125)I]-alpha-bungarotoxin and [(3)H]-nicotine, advances in cloning the subunits, and expression and evaluation of function of combinations of subunits in Xenopus oocytes. The discovery of epibatidine and alpha-conotoxin MII (alpha-CtxMII), and the development of nAChR subunit null mutant mice have been invaluable in determining which nAChR subunits are important for expression and function in mice, as well as allowing validation of the specificity of subunit specific antibodies. These approaches have identified five nAChR subtypes of nAChR that are expressed on dopaminergic nerve terminals. Three of these contain the alpha6 subunit (alpha4alpha6beta2beta3, alpha6beta2beta3, alpha6beta2) and bind alpha-CtxMII with high affinity. One of these three subtypes (alpha4alpha6beta2beta3) also has the highest sensitivity to nicotine of any native nAChR that has been studied, to date. The two subtypes that do not have high affinity for alpha-CtxMII (alpha4beta2, alpha4alpha5beta2) are somewhat more numerous than the alpha6* subtypes, but do bind nicotine with high affinity. Given that our first studies detected readily measured differences in sensitivity to agonists and antagonists among these five nAChR subtypes, it seems likely that subtype selective compounds could be developed that would allow therapeutic manipulation of diverse nAChRs that have been implicated in a number of human conditions.

Role of presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility

Presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) located on cholinergic terminals facilitate the release of acetylcholine (ACh), thereby constituting a fail-safe mechanism at strategic locations, such as the neuromuscular junction, where reliable transmission is vital. Accumulating data indicate that myenteric neurons in the enteric nervous system possess not only somatodendritic nAChRs, which mediate cholinergic transmission between neurons, but also presynaptic nAChRs. Functional evidence shows that these receptors mediate a positive feedback with respect to ACh release from myenteric motoneurons, and might therefore play an important role in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility. These presynaptic nAChRs were found to be more sensitive to nicotinic ligands than somatodendritic nAChRs and could therefore be primary targets of exogenous compounds, such as nicotine. This interaction might provide a neurochemical basis for the effect of smoking on gastrointestinal motility. Another important human pharmacological implication is based on our recent observation that monoamine uptake inhibitor-type antidepressant drugs are able to inhibit presynaptic nAChRs in the enteric nervous system. The disruption of the nAChR-mediated positive feedback modulation by antidepressants might explain the frequent occurrence of constipation, a common side effect, attributed to these drugs. Clarification of the role of presynaptic nAChRs in feedback mechanisms in the enteric nervous system might be instrumental in the development of new drugs affecting gastrointestinal motility.

In vivo neurochemical characterization of Anatoxin-a evoked dopamine release from striatum

Anatoxin-a (AnTx) is a natural neurotoxin, which acts as a potent and stereoselective agonist at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The in vivo actions of the AnTx on dopamine (DA) release are scarcely characterized. The aim of this study was to determine the neurochemical bases for AnTx-induced striatal DA release, using the brain microdialysis technique, in freely moving rats. Local application of AnTx (3.5 mM) through the microdialysis probe produced an increase in striatal DA levels (701 +/- 51% with respect to basal values). The effect of infusion of AnTx in Ca(2+)-free Ringer medium, in Na(+)-free Ringer medium and with TTX in the medium, was inhibited. Also, reserpine pre-treatment blocked the action of AnTx on striatal DA levels. To investigate the involvement of the DA transporter, the effects of AnTx were observed in the presence of nomifensine. The coadministration of AnTx and nomifensine evoked an additive effect on striatal DA levels. The latter results show that the DA release is not mediated by a decreased DA uptake. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that the effects of AnTx are predominantly mediated by an exocytotic mechanism, Ca(2+)-, Na(+)- and TTX-dependent, and not by a mechanism mediated by the DA transporter.

Functional Pharmacology in Human Brain

Most neurological and psychiatric disorders involve selective or preferential impairments of neurotransmitter systems. Therefore, studies of functional transmitter pathophysiology in human brain are of unique importance in view of the development of effective, mechanism-based, therapeutic modalities. It is well known that central nervous system functional proteins, including receptors, transporters, ion channels, and enzymes, can exhibit high heterogeneity in terms of structure, function, and pharmacological profile. If the existence of types and subtypes of functional proteins amplifies the possibility of developing selective drugs, such heterogeneity certainly increases the likelihood of interspecies differences. It is therefore essential, before choosing animal models to be used in preclinical pharmacology experimentation, to establish whether functionally corresponding proteins in men and animals also display identical pharmacological profiles. Because of evidence that scaffolding proteins, trafficking between plasma membrane and intracellular pools, phosphorylation and allosteric modulators can affect the function of receptors and transporters, experiments with human clones expressed in host cells where the environment of native receptors is rarely reproduced should be interpreted with caution. Thus, the use of neurosurgically removed fresh human brain tissue samples in which receptors, transporters, ion channels, and enzymes essentially retain their natural environment represents a unique experimental approach to enlarge our understanding of human brain processes and to help in the choice of appropriate animal models. Using this experimental approach, many human brain functional proteins, in particular transmitter receptors, have been characterized in terms of localization, function, and pharmacological properties.

In vivo Effects of the Anatoxin-a on Striatal Dopamine Release

Anatoxin-a is an important neurotoxin that acts a potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. This characteristic makes anatoxin-a an important tool for the study of nicotinic receptors. Anatoxin-a has been used extensively in vitro experiments, however anatoxin-a has never been studied by in vivo microdialysis studies. This study test the effect of anatoxin-a on striatal in vivo dopamine release by microdialysis.The results of this work show that anatoxin-a evoked dopamine release in a concentration-dependent way. Atropine had not any effect on dopamine release evoked by 3.5 mM anatoxin-a. However, perfusion of nicotinic antagonists mecamylamine and alpha-bungarotoxin induced a total inhibition of the striatal dopamine release. Perfusion of alpha7*-receptors antagonists, metillycaconitine or alpha-bungarotoxin, partially inhibits the release of dopamine stimulated by anatoxin-a. These results show that anatoxin-a can be used as an important nicotinic agonist in the study of nicotinic receptor by in vivo microdialysis technique and also support further in vivo evidences that alpha7*nicotinic AChRs are implicated in the regulation of striatal dopamine release.

P2X(7) receptors exert a permissive role on the activation of release-enhancing presynaptic alpha7 nicotinic receptors co-existing on rat neocortex glutamatergic terminals

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been reported to enhance the release of glutamate by acting at P2X presynaptic receptors. Acetylcholine (ACh) can elicit glutamate release through presynaptic nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) of the alpha7 subtype situated on glutamatergic axon terminals, provided that the terminal membrane is weakly depolarized. Considering that ATP and ACh are co-transmitters, we here investigate on the possibility that P2X and nAChRs co-exist and interact on the same glutamatergic nerve endings using purified rat neocortex synaptosomes in superfusion. ATP evoked Ca(2+)-dependent release of pre-accumulated D-[(3)H]aspartate ([(3)H]D-ASP) as well as of endogenous glutamate; (-)-nicotine, inactive on its own, potentiated the ATP-evoked release. The ATP analogue benzoylbenzoylATP (BzATP) behaved like ATP, but was approximately 30 times more potent; the potentiation of the BzATP-evoked release was blocked by methyllycaconitine or alpha-bungarotoxin. Adding inactive concentrations of (-)-nicotine, epibatidine or choline together with inactive concentrations of BzATP resulted in significant elevation of the [(3)H]D-ASP release mediated by alpha7 nAChRs. To conclude, P2X(7) receptors and alpha7 nAChRs seem to co-exist and interact on rat neocortex glutamatergic terminals; in particular, P2X(7) receptors exert a permissive role on the activation of alpha7 nAChRs, suggesting that ATP may not only evoke glutamate release on its own, but may also regulate the release of the amino acid elicited by ACh.

Nicotine increases microdialysate brain amino acid concentrations and induces conditioned place preference

The action of nicotine on the nicotinic receptor-mediated release of inhibitory and excitatory acids in the nucleus accumbens, NAC, of freely moving rats was studied in order to clarify their effects' on reinforcing behavior as estimated by conditioned place preference (CPP). Using the technique of microdialysis, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of nicotine (0.15-0.3-0.6 mg/kg), significantly increased aspartate, glutamate, arginine, taurine, and alanine microdialysate content in the nucleus accumbens. The same doses of nicotine were able to elicit a reinforcing effect in a CPP paradigm which was probably associated with the increased brain levels of excitatory acids triggering additional dopamine release in the mesolimbic system.

Thalamic nicotinic receptors implicated in disturbed consciousness in dementia with Lewy bodies

Disturbances of consciousness (DOC) are common in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Following previous findings of preserved temporal cortical high-affinity nicotinic binding relating to DOC, we investigated this receptor in thalamus, an area of high nicotinic receptor concentration, implicated in consciousness. 5-[125I]-A-85380 binding, primarily reflecting the alpha4beta2 subtype, was compared in 16 DLB patients with DOC and 6 without DOC, matched for duration and severity of dementia. Binding was higher in patients with DOC compared to patients without DOC in all thalamic nuclei examined, reaching significance in the reticular and ventral anterior thalamic nuclei. Comparing DLB patients with and without DOC to previously reported controls revealed similar binding levels in patients with DOC and lower binding in patients without DOC, reaching significance in the ventral anterior, indicating preserved nicotinic receptor density in DLB patients with DOC. These findings, together with previous neocortical data, implicate nicotinic modulation of thalamo-cortical circuitry as a key component in the control of conscious awareness in DLB.

Chronic nicotine differentially affects the function of nicotinic receptor subtypes regulating neurotransmitter release

It is known that nicotine can activate several subtypes of release-regulating presynaptic nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) including those situated on central noradrenergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic and glutamatergic axon terminals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of (-)nicotine on the function of the above autoreceptors and heteroreceptors using rat superfused synaptosomes. In hippocampal synaptosomes prelabelled with [3H]noradrenaline (NA) the nicotine-evoked overflow of [3H]NA was higher in rats treated with nicotine for 10 days (via osmotic mini-pumps) than in vehicle-treated rats. In striatal synaptosomes, prelabelled with [3H]dopamine (DA), chronic nicotine did not modify the releasing effect of nicotine. No significant change was observed in experiments with synaptosomes from nucleus accumbens prelabelled with [3H]DA. Exposure of hippocampal synaptosomes prelabelled with [3H]choline to nicotine elicited release of [3H]acetylcholine; this effect was almost abolished in synaptosomes from animals administered nicotine for 10 days, suggesting down-regulation of nicotinic autoreceptors. In hippocampal synaptosomes prelabelled with [3H]D-aspartate, the releasing effect of epibatidine following chronic nicotine treatment did not differ from that in controls. The K+-evoked exocytotic release of the neurotransmitters tested was not modified by long-term nicotine administration. The results show that chronic nicotine differentially affects the function of release-regulating nAChR subtypes.

Role of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors in an experimental model of epilepsy-induced analgesia

The blockade of GABA-mediated Cl(-) influx with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) was used in the present work to induce seizures in animals. The neurotransmission in the postictal period has been the focus of many studies, and there is evidence suggesting antinociceptive mechanisms following tonic-clonic seizures in both animals and men. The aim of this work was to study the involvement of acetylcholine in the antinociception induced by convulsions elicited by peripheral administration of PTZ (64 mg/kg). Analgesia was measured by the tail-flick test in eight albino Wistar rats per group. Convulsions were followed by significant increases in tail-flick latencies (TFLs) at least for 120 min of the postictal period. Peripheral administration of atropine (0.25, 1 and 4 mg/kg) caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in the TFL in seizing animals, as compared to controls. These data were corroborated by peripheral administration of mecamylamine, a nicotinic cholinergic receptor blocker, at the same doses (0.25, 1 and 4 mg/kg) used for the muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist. The recruitment of the muscarinic receptor was made 10 min postconvulsions and in subsequent periods of postictal analgesia, whereas the involvement of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor was implicated only after 30 min postseizures. The cholinergic antagonists caused a minimal reduction in body temperature, but did not impair baseline TFL, spontaneous exploration or motor coordination in the rotarod test at the maximal dose of 4 mg/kg. These results indicate that acetylcholine may be involved as a neurotransmitter in postictal analgesia.

The Allosteric Potentiation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by Galantamine Is Transduced into Cellular Responses in Neurons: Ca2+ Signals and Neurotransmitter Release

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) modulate a variety of cellular responses, including Ca2+ signals and neurotransmitter release, which can influence neuronal processes such as synaptic efficacy and neuroprotection. In addition to receptor activation through the agonist binding site, an allosteric modulation of nAChR has also been described for a novel class of allosteric ligands. Of these, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and Alzheimer drug galantamine represents the prototypical allosteric ligand, based on its potentiation of nAChR-evoked single-channel and whole-cell currents. The aim of this study was to establish whether the allosteric potentiation of nAChR currents is transduced in downstream cellular responses to nAChR activation, namely increases in intracellular Ca2+ and [3H]noradrenaline release. In SH-SY5Y cells, galantamine potentiated nicotine-evoked increases in intracellular Ca2+ and [3H]noradrenaline release with a bell-shaped concentration-response profile; maximum enhancement of nicotine-evoked responses occurred at 1 muM galantamine. This potentiation was blocked by mecamylamine, whereas galantamine had no effect on these measures in the absence of nicotine. Galantamine did not compete for radioligand binding to the agonist binding sites of several nAChR subtypes, consistent with an allosteric mode of action. Unlike galantamine, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors rivastigmine and donepezil did not potentiate nAChR-mediated responses, whereas donepezil was a reasonably potent inhibitor of nicotine- and KCl-evoked increases in Ca2+. nAChR-mediated [3H]noradrenaline release from hippocampal slices was also potentiated by galantamine, with an additional component attributable to acetylcholinesterase inhibition and subsequent increase in acetylcholine. These results indicate that the allosteric regulation of nAChR results in the potentiation of receptor-dependent cellular processes relevant to many of the physiological consequences of nAChR activation.

Co-expression of alpha7 and beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNAs within rat brain cholinergic neurons

Nicotine enhances cognitive and attentional processes through stimulation of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Although muscarinic cholinergic autoreceptors have been well characterized, pharmacological characterization of nicotinic autoreceptors has proven more difficult. The present study used double-labeling in situ hybridization to determine expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit mRNAs within basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in order to gain information about possible nAChR autoreceptor properties. Cholinergic cells of the mesopontine tegmentum and striatal interneurons were also examined, as were septohippocampal GABAergic neurons that interact with cholinergic neurons to regulate hippocampal activity. alpha7 and beta2 nAChR mRNAs were found to be co-expressed in almost all cholinergic cells and in the majority of GABAergic neurons examined. alpha4 nAChR mRNA expression was restricted to cholinergic cells of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis, and to non-cholinergic cells of the medial septum and mesopontine tegmentum. These data suggest possible regional differences in the pharmacological properties of nicotinic autoreceptors on cholinergic cells. Whereas most cholinergic cells express rapidly desensitizing alpha7 homomers or alpha7beta2 heteromers, cortical projection neurons may also express a pharmacologically distinct alpha4beta2 nAChR subtype. There may also be differential nAChR regulation of cholinergic and non-cholinergic cells within the mesopontine tegmentum that are implicated in acquisition of nicotine self-administration.

Nicotine as an antiepileptic agent in ADNFLE: an N-of-one study

PURPOSE

To test nicotine patch treatment for a patient with a defined mutation for autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) whose seizures were refractory to standard antiepileptic therapy.

METHODS

Open and double-blind trials of nicotine patches in an "n-of-one" study. The double-blind trial comprised periods during which either placebo or nicotine patches were each used for three periods of 2 weeks, randomized in a double-blind manner.

RESULTS

In an open study, nicotine patches reduced seizures from 1.65 +/- 2.36 to 0.01 +/- 0.0 seizures per day (p < 0.0001). In a double-blinded placebo-controlled phase, the average frequency of seizures on nicotine versus placebo was 0 +/- 0 versus 0.56 +/- 1.14 seizures per day (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nicotine patches may be of benefit to some individuals with ADNFLE.

Nicotinic autoreceptor function in rat brain during maturation and aging: possible differential sensitivity to organophosphorus anticholinesterases

Acetylcholine (ACh) release is modulated pre-synaptically by both muscarinic and nicotinic receptor-mediated processes. While muscarinic autoreceptors inhibit ACh release, nicotinic autoreceptors enhance ACh release and thus disruption of these processes could potentially affect cholinergic toxicity following exposure to anticholinesterases. Marked age-related differences in sensitivity to some organophosphorus (OP) anticholinesterases have been reported. We compared nicotinic autoreceptor function (NAF) during maturation and aging and evaluated its potential modulation by the common OP insecticide, chlorpyrifos (CPF). Cortical synaptosomes were pre-loaded with [3H]choline, superfused (0.6 ml/min) with physiological buffer and [3H]ACh release was evoked with potassium (KCl, 9 mM), with or without co-addition of exogenous ACh to stimulate nicotinic autoreceptors. Fractions of perfusate were subsequently collected and area under the curve (AUC) for [3H] was analyzed by scintillation counting. The difference in evoked release due to co-addition of exogenous ACh was defined as NAF. Under these conditions, atropine (ATR, 0.1 microM) appeared requisite for NAF; thus this muscarinic antagonist was subsequently added to all perfusion buffers. In synaptosomes from adult tissues, exogenous ACh (3-100 microM) significantly increased release in a concentration-dependent manner. The nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (MEC, 100 microM) substantially reduced the potassium-evoked release elicited by co-addition of ACh (10 microM). Interestingly, the nicotinic agonists nicotine (NIC) and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP; 0.1-10 microM) had no effect on release. The active metabolite of CPF (i.e. chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO), 1-10 microM) inhibited NAF in vitro. Maturation-related expression of NAF was noted (AUC with co-addition of 10 microM ACh: 7-day rats, 7+/-6; 21-day rats, 44+/-6; 90-day rats, 196+/-37; 24-month rats, 173+/-52). NAF was substantially reduced (67-91%) 96 h after maximum tolerated dosages of CPF in adult and aged rats (279 mg/kg, sc) but not in juveniles (127 mg/kg, sc), even though AChE inhibition was similar among the age groups (>80%). Together these data suggest that NAF is differentially expressed during maturation and that this neuromodulatory process may be selectively altered by some OP insecticides, potentially contributing to age-related differences in response to AChE inhibitors. As NAF has been postulated to be activated under conditions of 'impaired' cholinergic function, selective alteration of this pre-synaptic process by OP anticholinesterases may be also important in age-related conditions associated with cholinergic hypofunction.

Disturbances of consciousness in dementia with Lewy bodies associated with alteration in nicotinic receptor binding in the temporal cortex

Disturbances of consciousness, including fluctuations in attention and awareness, are a common and clinically important symptom in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In the present study we investigate potential mechanisms of such disturbances of consciousness (DOC) in a clinicopathological study evaluating specific components of the cholinergic system. [3H]Epibatidine binding to the high-affinity nicotinic receptor in the temporal cortex (Brodmann's areas 20 and 36) differentiated DLB cases with and without DOC, being 62-66% higher in those with DOC (F=4.5,p=.025). The were no differences between DLB patients with or without DOC in 125I-labeled alpha-bungaratoxin binding to the low-affinity nicotinic receptor, [3H]pirenzepine binding to the muscarinic M1 receptor, or in choline acetyltransferase activity. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that cholinergic activity is an important neural correlate if consciousness and suggest a mechanism of DOC in DLB involving alterations in the nicotinic receptor, composed of predominantly alpha4 and beta2 subunits.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated release of [3H]norepinephrine from developing and adult rat hippocampus: direct and indirect mechanisms

The primary role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in adult and developing brain is to modulate neurotransmission. Using in vitro neurotransmitter release, we have examined mechanisms underlying nicotine-induced [(3)H]norepinephrine release from developing and adult rat hippocampus. At birth, nicotine significantly stimulated hippocampal [(3)H]norepinephrine release with a monotonic increase in maximal drug effect over the first ten postnatal days. No developmental changes in agonist or antagonist potency were observed. Comparison of synaptosomal and slice preparations, as well as examination of the effects of tetrodotoxin, indicated that at least two nicotinic acetylcholine receptor populations regulated [(3)H]norepinephrine release from neonatal and adult hippocampus; one localized on noradrenergic terminals, the other on adjacent cells. To further characterize the indirect mechanism of nicotine action in the adult, we examined the effects of pharmacological blockade of various neurotransmitter systems that provide excitatory input to hippocampal noradrenergic terminals. Whereas glutamate and muscarinic receptor blockade was ineffective, the GABA-A receptor antagonists, bicuculline and picrotoxin, inhibited the indirect component of nicotine-mediated [(3)H]norepinephrine release. Furthermore, pentobarbital, an allosteric effector at GABA-A receptors, potentiated the effect of submaximal concentrations of nicotine. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that nicotine-induced GABA release serves as an additional stimulus for [(3)H]norepinephrine secretion within rat hippocampus.

Neurobiology of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome

The aversive aspects of withdrawal from chronic nicotine exposure are thought to be an important motivational factor contributing to the maintenance of the tobacco habit in human smokers. Much emphasis has been placed on delineating the underlying neurobiological mechanisms mediating different components of the nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Recent studies have shown that both central and peripheral populations of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in mediating somatic signs of nicotine withdrawal as measured by the rodent nicotine abstinence scale. However, only central populations of nAChRs are involved in mediating affective aspects of nicotine withdrawal, as measured by elevations in brain-stimulation reward thresholds and conditioned place aversion. Nicotine interacts with several neurotransmitter systems, including acetylcholine, dopamine, opioid peptides, serotonin, and glutamate systems. Evidence so far suggests that these neurotransmitters play a role in nicotine dependence and withdrawal processes. The available evidence also suggests that different underlying neurochemical deficits mediate somatic and affective components of nicotine withdrawal. The aim of the present review is to discuss preclinical findings concerning the neuroanatomical and neurochemical substrates involved in these different aspects of nicotine withdrawal.

The pharmacology of gamma-aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine receptors at the echinoderm neuromuscular junction

This review describes the various subtypes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors found at the echinoderm neuromuscular junction (NMJ), based on pharmacological and physiological studies. The review focuses mainly on holothurian GABA receptors at the NMJ located between the radial nerve and longitudinal muscle of the body wall (LMBW) and compares them to GABA receptors described at other echinoderm NMJs. Since a primary action of GABA on the holothurian LMBW is to modulate contractile responses to the excitatory neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), the pharmacology of echinoderm nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) and muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs) is also addressed. GABA responses have been described in the asteroids, echinoids and holothuroids but not in the other echinoderm classes. Some actions of GABA on echinoderm muscle include regulation of basal tone and spontaneous rhythmic contractions and modulation of cholinergic responses. Both GABA A and B receptor subtypes are present at the echinoderm NMJ, a feature also common to the arthropods, molluscs and chordates. Echinoderm GABA A receptors may mediate the excitatory responses to GABA. The GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline has a paradoxical effect on contractility, stimulating large protracted contractions of the LMBW. The GABA A agonist muscimol potentiates cholinergic contractions of the holothurian LMBW. Another population of GABA receptors is inhibitory and is sensitive to the GABA B agonist baclofen and GABA B antagonists phaclofen and 2-OH-saclofen. The pre- and/or postsynaptic location of the GABA A and B receptors is not currently known. The folded GABA analogue 4-cis-aminocrotonic acid has no effect on the contractility of the holothurian LMBW so GABA C receptors are probably lacking in this preparation. Pharmacological studies have shown that distinct nAChRs and mAChRs are colocalized in numerous echinoderm muscle preparations. Most recently, nAChR agonists were used to characterize pharmacologically receptors at the holothurian LMBW that bind ACh. Nicotinic AChRs with unique pharmacological profiles are localized both pre- and postsynaptically at this NMJ, where their physiological action is to enhance muscle tone. Muscarinic agonists also have excitatory actions on the LMBW but their action is to stimulate phasic, rhythmic contractions of the muscle. The location of mAChRs at the echinoderm NMJ, however, is unknown.Since most of the studies described in the present review have used whole-mount preparations consisting largely of a combination of muscle fibers, neurons and connective tissue, it is extremely difficult to determine pharmacologically the exact location of the various receptor subtypes. Additional electrophysiological studies on isolated neurons and muscle fibers are therefore required to clearly define extra-, pre- and/or postsynaptic sites for the receptor subtypes at the echinoderm NMJ.

The antinociceptive effect of intrathecal administration of epibatidine with clonidine or neostigmine in the formalin test in rats

The analgesic effect of intrathecal injection of epibatidine, clonidine and neostigmine, compounds that elevate ACh, was examined in the formalin test, a model of post-injury central sensitization in the rat. The compounds were injected alone and in combination. Intrathecal injection of epibatidine alone did not alter pain behaviors, compared to vehicle-treated rats. Intrathecal injection of clonidine dose-dependently reduced tonic pain behaviors (ED(50)+/-95% confidence limits=6.7+/-4.8 microg). The combination of clonidine and epibatidine (C:E), in the ratio of 26:1, dose-dependently reduced tonic pain behaviors; and the ED(50) of C:E was 1.1+/-0.98 microg a significant 6-fold leftward shift of the dose response curve, compared with clonidine alone. The antinociceptive effect of C:E (26:1) was attenuated by pre-treatment with the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine. Neostigmine dose-dependently reduced tonic pain behaviors (ED(50)=1.5+/-1.3 microg). The combination of neostigmine and epibatidine, in a ratio of 8:1, significantly shifted the dose response curve 4-fold to the left (ED(50)=0.4+/-0.3 microg). The effect is mediated in part by the activation of the nAChR and possibly by the enhanced release of ACh. These data demonstrate significant enhancement of the antinociceptive effects of spinally delivered analgesics by a nAChR agonist, suggesting that this class of compounds may have utility as adjuvants when combined with conventional therapeutics.

Ca(2+) changes induced by different presynaptic nicotinic receptors in separate populations of individual striatal nerve terminals

Presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors likely play a modulatory role in the nerve terminal. Using laser-scanning confocal microscopy, we have characterized physiological responses obtained on activation of presynaptic nicotinic receptors by measuring calcium changes in individual nerve terminals (synaptosomes) isolated from the rat corpus striatum. Nicotine (500 nM) induced Ca(2+) changes in a subset (10-25%) of synaptosomes. The Ca(2+) responses were dependent on extracellular Ca(2+) and desensitized very slowly (several minutes) on prolonged exposure to agonist. The nicotine-induced Ca(2+) responses were dose-dependent and were completely blocked by dihydro-beta-erythroidine (5 microM), differentially affected by mecamylamine (10 microM) and alpha-conotoxin MII (100 nM), and not affected by alpha-bungarotoxin (500 nM). Immunocytochemical studies using well-characterized monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of the alpha4 and alpha3/alpha5 nicotinic subunits. The nicotine-induced responses were unaffected by prior depolarization or by a mixture of Ca(2+) channel toxins including omega-conotoxin MVIIC (500 nM), omega-conotoxin GVIA (500 nM) and agatoxin TK (200 nM). Our results indicate that nicotinic receptors present on striatal nerve terminals induce Ca(2+) entry largely without involving voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, most likely by direct permeation via the receptor channel itself. In addition, at least two subpopulations of presynaptic nicotinic receptors reside on separate terminals in the striatum, suggesting distinct modulatory roles.

Nicotinic receptor abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease

Loss of cortical nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with high affinity for agonists (20-50%) in patients with Alzheimer's disease is a common finding. Recent immunochemical analyses indicate that this deficit is predominantly associated with the loss of alpha4 subunits (30-50%), although modest reductions of alpha3 may occur in some individuals (25-29%). No reduction of beta2 subunit protein expression or levels of alpha3 and alpha4 messenger RNA has been reported. Decline in cortical [(125)I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding and alpha7 protein expression does not appear to be as extensive or widespread as the loss of alpha4 (0-40%), with no reduction in messenger RNA expression. In the thalamus, there was a trend for reduced [(3)H]nicotine binding in the majority of nuclei (0-20%) in Alzheimer's disease; however, there was a significant decline in [(125)I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding in the reticular nucleus. In the striatum [(3)H]nicotine binding was reduced in Alzheimer's disease, and although neuroleptic medication accentuated this change, it occurred in those free of neuroleptics. Changes in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in Alzheimer's disease are distinct from those in normal aging and are likely to contribute to clinical features and possibly neuropathology.

Nicotine and its interaction with beta-amyloid protein: a short review

Two features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are beta-amyloid protein (betaAP) deposition and a severe cholinergic deficit. beta-Amyloid protein is a 39- to 43-amino acid transmembrane fragment of a larger precursor molecule, amyloid precursor protein. It is a major constituent of senile plaque, a neuropathologic hallmark of AD, and has been shown to be neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro. The cholinergic neurotransmission system is seen as the primary target of AD. However, other systems are also found to show functional deficit. An association between cholinergic deficit and betaAP is suggested by a negative correlation between cigarette smoking and AD. Evidence hitherto suggests that betaAP causes neuronal death possibly via apoptosis by disrupting calcium homeostasis, which may involve direct activation or enhancement of ligand-gated or voltage-dependent calcium channels. Selective second messengers such as protein kinases are triggered that signal neuronal death. Nicotine or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can partially prevent the neurotoxicity of betaAP in vivo and in vitro. However, the exact mechanism by which nicotine provides its protective effects is not fully understood, but clearly there are protective roles for nicotine. Here, some aspects of betaAP neurotoxicity and nicotinic intervention as a protective agent are discussed.

Nicotinic agonists stimulate acetylcholine release from mouse interpeduncular nucleus: a function mediated by a different nAChR than dopamine release from striatum

Acetylcholine release stimulated by nicotinic agonists was measured as radioactivity released from perfused synaptosomes prepared from mouse interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) that had been loaded with [(3)H]choline. Agonist-stimulated release was dependent upon external calcium and over 90% of released radioactivity was acetylcholine. The release process was characterized by dose response curves for 13 agonists and inhibition curves for six antagonists. alpha-Conotoxin MII did not inhibit this release, while alpha-conotoxin AuIB inhibited 50% of agonist-stimulated release. Comparison of this process with [(3)H]dopamine release from mouse striatal synaptosomes indicated that different forms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) may mediate these processes. This was confirmed by assays using mice homozygous for the beta 2 subunit null mutation. The deletion of the beta 2 subunit had no effect on agonist-stimulated acetylcholine release, but abolished agonist-stimulated release of dopamine from striatal synaptosomes. Mice heterozygous for the beta 2 subunit null mutation showed decreased dopamine release evoked by L-nicotine with no apparent change in EC(50) value, as well as similar decreases in both transient and persistent phases of release with no changes in desensitization rates.

Acute nicotine decreases, and chronic nicotine increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA in rat hippocampus

Acute nicotine administration (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased BDNF mRNA levels in dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1 subfields of the rat hippocampus 2 h and 24 h after administration. However, with 7 days nicotine treatment, tolerance developed to the inhibitory effect of nicotine on BDNF mRNA expression and there was a significant increase in BDNF expression 2 h after the final injection in the CA1 region. These data suggests that changes in expression of hippocampal BDNF may be involved in the behavioural effects of nicotine observed after acute and chronic treatment.

Evidence for a complex influence of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on hippocampal serotonin release

The effects of nicotine on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from serotonergic nerve endings in rat dorsal hippocampal slices were studied. Nicotine (50-500 microM:) caused a concentration-dependent increase in 5-HT release. This effect was antagonised by mecamylamine (0.5 microM:), indicating an action at nicotinic receptors. Nicotine-evoked 5-HT release was not affected by tetrodotoxin (3 microM:), cadmium chloride (0.1 mM:), or the absence of Ca(2+) or Na(+) in the superfusion medium. Unexpectedly, higher concentrations of mecamylamine alone (1-50 microM:) increased 5-HT release. This suggested the presence of inhibitory input to 5-HT neurones and that these inhibitory neurones possess tonically active nicotinic receptors. The effect of mecamylamine (50 microM:) on 5-HT release was reduced by the muscarinic M(1) receptor agonist, McN-A-343 (100 microM:), but pirenzepine (0.005-1 microM:), which blocks M(1) receptors, alone increased 5-HT release. Hippocampal serotonergic neurones are known to possess both excitatory nicotinic receptors and inhibitory M(1) receptors. Although there may be several explanations for our results, one possible explanation is that nicotine stimulates 5-HT release by activating nicotinic heteroreceptors on 5-HT terminals. Mecamylamine (0.5 microM:) antagonises this effect, but higher concentrations increase 5-HT release indirectly by blocking the action of endogenous acetylcholine on nicotinic receptors situated on cholinergic neurones that provide muscarinic inhibitory input to 5-HT neurones.

Two distinct classes of functional 7-containing nicotinic receptor on rat superior cervical ganglion neurons

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that bind alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha Bgt) were studied on isolated rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons using whole-cell patch clamp recording techniques. Rapid application of ACh onto the soma of voltage clamped neurons evoked a slowly desensitizing current that was reversibly blocked by alpha Bgt (50 nM). The toxin-sensitive current constituted on average about half of the peak whole-cell response evoked by ACh. Nanomolar concentrations of methyllycaconitine blocked the alpha Bgt-sensitive component of the ACh-evoked current as did intracellular dialysis with an anti-alpha 7 monoclonal antibody. The results indicate that the slowly reversible toxin-sensitive response elicited by ACh arises from activation of an unusual class of alpha 7-containing receptor (alpha 7-nAChR) similar to that reported previously for rat intracardiac ganglion neurons. A second class of functional alpha 7-nAChR was identified on some SCG neurons by using rapid application of choline to elicit responses. In these cases a biphasic response was obtained, which included a rapidly desensitizing component that was blocked by alpha Bgt in a pseudo-irreversible manner. The pharmacology and kinetics of the responses resembled those previously attributed to alpha 7-nAChRs in a number of other neuronal cell types. Experiments measuring the dissociation rate of 125I-labelled alpha Bgt from SCG neurons revealed two classes of toxin-binding site. The times for toxin dissociation were consistent with those required to reverse blockade of the two kinds of alpha Bgt-sensitive response. These results indicate that rat SCG neurons express two types of functional alpha 7-nAChR, differing in pharmacology, desensitization and reversibility of alpha Bgt blockade.

Nicotine, brain nicotinic receptors, and neuropsychiatric disorders

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) represent a large family of ligand-gated cation channels with diverse structures and properties. In contrast to the muscular nAChRs, the physiological functions of neuronal nAChRs are not well defined to date. Behavioral studies indicate that brain nAChRs participate in complex functions such as attention, memory, and cognition, whereas clinical data suggest their involvement in the pathogenesis of certain neuropsychiatric disorders (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, depression, etc.). For the majority of these disorders, the use of nAChRs' agonists may represent either a prophylactic (especially for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) or a symptomatic treatment. The possible mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects as well as the characteristics and potential therapeutic use of new, subtype-selective nAChRs agonists are presented.

Nicotine-evoked [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine release from rat striatal synaptosomes

The aim of this study was to characterize the pharmacology of presynaptic nicotinic cholinoceptors (nAChRs) that modulate release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from superfused rat brain synaptosomes preloaded with [3H]5-HT. Nicotine increased 5-HT release from striatal synaptosomes (maximally by 15-30%) but not from cerebral cortex or hippocampal synaptosomes. Release of striatal 5-HT was increased in a concentration-dependent manner by nicotine, epibatidine, cytisine, and ACh (with added esterase inhibitor and muscarinic antagonist). Respective EC50 values were: 0.5, 0.003, 0.1 and 0.7 microM. The maximal effect of each agonist was virtually completely blocked by a high concentration of the insurmountable nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine; at a higher concentration of epibatidine (3 microM), a mecamylamine-insensitive effect was revealed. Nicotine, ACh and epibatidine appeared equally efficacious, whereas cytisine was of lower efficacy (60-70% of ACh). Release evoked by a half-maximal concentration of nicotine was inhibited by the nicotinic antagonists dihydro-beta-erythroidine (IC50 0.04 microM) and methyllycaconitine (IC50 0.06 microM). Nicotine-evoked 5-HT release was not reduced by tetrodotoxin given in a concentration that blocked veratridine-evoked release. These findings provide functional evidence for a direct action of nicotine on 5-HT neurons in the brain. The presynaptic nAChRs that modulate striatal 5-HT release appear to possess a novel pharmacological profile.

Pharmacological identification of acetylcholine receptor subtypes in echinoderm smooth muscle (Sclerodactyla briareus)

Contractions of an echinoderm (sp. Sclerodactyla briareus) smooth muscle, the longitudinal muscle of the body wall (LMBW), were evoked by acetylcholine (ACh) and agonists: epibatidine, muscarine and nicotine (in order of force generation: ACh>muscarine=epibatidine>nicotine). ACh-induced contractions were blocked by atropine by 50%, and methoctramine, by 30%. ACh responses were also blocked by 25% by methyllycaconitine (MLA) but not by D-tubocurarine (dTC). Muscarine initiated large contractions that were completely blocked by atropine. To elucidate possible muscarinic ACh receptor (mAChR) subtypes, muscarinic agonists (oxotremorine, pilocarpine) and antagonists (methoctramine, pirenzepine) were tested. Oxotremorine, pilocarpine, and pirenzepine each enhanced resting tonus and potentiated ACh-induced contractions (order of potency: pilocarpine>oxotremorine=pirenzepine). Muscarine, oxotremorine or pirenzepine generated phasic, rhythmic contractions. Nicotine-induced contractions were almost completely blocked by dTC but were not altered by atropine. Large contractions evoked by epibatidine were potentiated by dTC whereas atropine had no effect on them. MLA blocked spontaneous rhythmicity. Cholinesterase inhibitors, neostigmine or physostigmine, caused marked potentiation of ACh-induced contractions and initiated rhythmic slow wave contractions in previously quiescent muscles. The present pharmacological evidence points to the co-existence of excitatory nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChRs) and mAChRs where nAChRs possibly modulate tone, and the mAChRs initiate and enhance rhythmicity.