We identified a potential novel site of action for nicotine (NIC) since (a) systemic injection of NIC led to a dose-dependent decrease in the amplitude of the sleep state-dependent, vertex-recorded, P13 midlatency auditory evoked potential (generated by the reticular activating system, RAS), (b) localized injections of a nicotinic receptor antagonist into the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN, the cholinergic arm of the RAS) blocked the effects of systemic NIC on the P13 potential (a measure of level of arousal), and (c) localized injection of a nicotinic receptor agonist into the PPN also led to a decrease in the amplitude of the P13 potential, an effect blocked by PPN injection of a nicotinic receptor antagonist. There were minor changes in the manifestation of the startle response (SR) at the concentrations used; however, NIC did decrease the hippocampal N40 potential, although its effects were not affected by antagonist or agonist injections into the PPN. These results suggest a potential mechanism underlying the anxiolytic effects of NIC-suppression of the cholinergic arm of the RAS.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-2219-8 | DOI Listing |
J Med Chem
January 2025
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section "Pietro Pratesi", University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, Milan 20133, Italy.
In the pressing quest of novel treatments for chronic pain, α7 nAChR silent agonists show efficacy as anti-inflammatory modulators and represent a promising strategy. Recent findings reveal that a sulfonium ion can replace the quaternary ammonium nitrogen as an alternative pharmacophore for nAChR silent activation. This study reports the design, synthesis, and electrophysiological evaluation of a new series of sulfonium-based derivatives inspired by the archetypal silent agonist NS6740.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransl Psychiatry
January 2025
Research Center Juelich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 10, Research Center Juelich, Juelich, Germany.
Genetic variation in the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit of mice results in behavioral deficits linked to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). rs16969968 is the primary Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in CHRNA5 strongly associated with nicotine dependence and schizophrenia in humans. We performed single cell-electrophysiology combined with morphological reconstructions on layer 6 (L6) excitatory neurons in the medial PFC (mPFC) of wild type (WT) rats, rats carrying the human coding polymorphism rs16969968 in Chrna5 and α5 knockout (KO) rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Immunopharmacol
January 2025
Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000 Shandong, China. Electronic address:
Esmolol has been demonstrated to mitigate inflammation damage and T lymphocyte apoptosis in septic cardiomyopathy. It has been established that the activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) by cluster of differentiation 4(CD4) T lymphocytes expressing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) can prevent excessive inflammation and reduce splenocyte apoptosis in septic cardiomyopathy. Given the similar anti-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that esmolol might be associated with α7 nAChR and thereby exert its cardioprotective functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Entomol
January 2025
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
In recent decades, the common and the tropical bed bugs have experienced a resurgence in many parts of the world. The evolution of insecticide resistance in bed bug populations is considered a significant factor contributing to this resurgence. We analyzed samples of Cimex lectularius L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNature
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Snakebite envenoming remains a devastating and neglected tropical disease, claiming over 100,000 lives annually and causing severe complications and long-lasting disabilities for many more. Three-finger toxins (3FTx) are highly toxic components of elapid snake venoms that can cause diverse pathologies, including severe tissue damage and inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in life-threatening neurotoxicity. At present, the only available treatments for snakebites consist of polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of immunized animals, which have high cost and limited efficacy against 3FTxs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!