While historically acetylcholine (ACh) holds a central place in the discovery of chemical transmission in the nervous system, progress in our knowledge of the mechanistic underpinnings of cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS) has lagged behind its sister transmitters. For example, unlike what we know about glutamatergic transmission, neither the prevalence of fast choline...

Sleep disturbance is among the many consequences of ethanol abuse in both humans and rodents. Ethanol consumption can reduce REM or paradoxical sleep (PS) in humans and rats, respectively. The first aim of this study was to develop an animal model of ethanol-induced PS suppression. This model administered intragastrically (by gavage) to male Wistar rats (3 months old, 200-250 g) 0.5 to 3.5 g/kg...

This review is focused on the basal forebrain (BfB) cholinergic system, cholinergic receptors and cholinoceptive target areas such as the neocortex, all of which are intimately involved in high cognitive functions and synaptic plasticity. The neurons of the BfB synthesize acetylcholine (ach) whose action is mediated by two subclasses of receptors, namely nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. usin...

Studies on the neurobiology of nerve growth factor (NGF) reveal a diverse range of actions. Through alterations in gene expression, NGF is important in maintaining and regulating the phenotype of neurons that express the high-affinity receptor, trkA. Nerve growth factor also has a rapid action, revealed by its role in pain signaling in bladder and in skin. In the central nervous system (CNS), N...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an agerelated neurodegenerative disorder characterized by global cognitive decline, with predominant impairments arising in attention and memory (Perry and Hodges, 1999). It is the sixth largest cause of death, and currently there is no way to prevent, cure, or even slow the progression (Klafki et al., 2006; Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). Although there is a widespr...