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Marchi M, Grilli M, Pittaluga AM. Nicotinic modulation of glutamate receptor function at nerve terminal level: a fine-tuning of synaptic signals. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:89. [PMID: 25972809 PMCID: PMC4413670 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on a specific interaction occurring between the nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) and the glutamatergic receptors (GluRs) at the nerve endings level. We have employed synaptosomes in superfusion and supplemented and integrated our findings with data obtained using techniques from molecular biology and immuno-cytochemistry, and the assessment of receptor trafficking. In particular, we characterize the following: (1) the direct and unequivocal localization of native α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamatergic receptors on specific nerve terminals, (2) their pharmacological characterization and functional co-localization with nAChRs on the same nerve endings, and (3) the existence of synergistic or antagonistic interactions among them. Indeed, in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAc), the function of some AMPA and NMDA receptors present on the dopaminergic and glutamatergic nerve terminals can be regulated negatively or positively in response to a brief activation of nAChRs. This effect occurs rapidly and involves the trafficking of AMPA and NMDA receptors. The event takes place also at very low concentrations of nicotine and involves the activation of several nAChRs subtypes. This dynamic control by cholinergic nicotinic system of glutamatergic NMDA and AMPA receptors might therefore represent an important neuronal presynaptic adaptation associated with nicotine administration. The understanding of the role of these nicotine-induced functional changes might open new and interesting perspectives both in terms of explaining the mechanisms that underlie some of the effects of nicotine addiction and in the development of new drugs for smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Marchi
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy ; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Grilli
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna M Pittaluga
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy ; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa , Genoa, Italy
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Falasca S, Ranc V, Petruzziello F, Khani A, Kretz R, Zhang X, Rainer G. Altered neurochemical levels in the rat brain following chronic nicotine treatment. J Chem Neuroanat 2014; 59-60:29-35. [PMID: 24915436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2014.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence shows that neurochemical systems are crucial mediators of nicotine dependence. Our present study evaluates the effect of 3-month chronic nicotine treatment on the levels of multiple quaternary ammonium compounds as well as glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid in the rat prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum and hypothalamus. We observed a marked decrease of acetylcholine levels in the dorsal striatum (22.88%, p<0.01), reflecting the impact of chronic nicotine in local interneuron circuits. We found decreases of carnitine in the dorsal striatum and prefrontal cortex (19.44%, p<0.01; 13.58%, p<0.01, respectively), but robust enhancements of carnitine in the hypothalamus (26.59%, p<0.01), which may reflect the alterations in food and water intake during chronic nicotine treatment. Finally, we identified an increase of prefrontal cortex glutamate levels (8.05%, p<0.05), supporting previous studies suggesting enhanced prefrontal activity during chronic drug use. Our study shows that quaternary ammonium compounds are regulated in a highly brain region specific manner during chronic nicotine treatment, and provides novel insights into neurochemical regulation during nicotine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Falasca
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Vaclav Ranc
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Filomena Petruzziello
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Abbas Khani
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Robert Kretz
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Xiaozhe Zhang
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland.
| | - Gregor Rainer
- Visual Cognition Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 5, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland; Fribourg Center for Cognition, University of Fribourg, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
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