Effects of bis(7)-tacrine on spontaneous synaptic activity and on the nicotinic ACh receptor of Torpedo electric organ.

Effects of Bis(7)-Tacrine on Spontaneous Synaptic Activity and on the Nicotinic ACh Receptor of Torpedo Electric Organ ESTEVE ROS, JORDI ALEU, INMACULADA GOMEZ DE ARANDA, CARLES CANTÍ, YUAN-PING PANG, JORDI MARSAL, AND CARLES SOLSONA

Cholinergic nerve terminals contain ascorbic acid which induces Ca2+-dependent release of acetylcholine and ATP from isolated Torpedo synaptic vesicles.

We have shown that a soluble, low-molecular weight, alkali-labile and oxidation-sensitive factor, prepared from the electric organ of Torpedo ocellata, induces Cap-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) release from isolated Torpedo synaptic vesicles [ 1,2]. Diverse activities of ascorbic acid in the brain have been reported [3-81. These include effects on metabolism of biogenic amines [9] and on releas...

Long-term desensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is regulated via protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation.

During prolonged application of transmitter, ligand-gated ion channels enter a nonconducting desensitized state. Studies on Torpedo electroplax nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors have shown that entry into the desensitized state is accelerated by protein kinase A-dependent (PKA) receptor phosphorylation. To examine the effects of phosphorylation on desensitization of muscle-type ACh recept...

Evaluation of nicotinic receptor of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in central cardiovascular regulation in anesthetized rat

Objective(s): Cholinergic neurons are important neurons in the Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT). In this study, nicotinic receptor of the PPT in central cardiovascular regulation in the anesthetized rat was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Saline, acetylcholine (Ach; doses: 90 and 150 nmol), hexamethonium (Hexa; doses: 100 and 300 nmol) and higher doses of Hexa (300 nmol) + Ach (150 nm...

Effects of Ketamine on Neuronal Spontaneous Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents and Miniature Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents in the Somatosensory Cortex of Rats

Background: Ketamine is a commonly used intravenous anesthetic which produces dissociation anesthesia, analgesia, and amnesia. The mechanism of ketamine-induced synaptic inhibition in high-level cortical areas is still unknown. We aimed to elucidate the effects of different concentrations of ketamine on the glutamatergic synaptic transmission of the neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex b...