The nicotinic receptor in the rat pineal gland is an alpha3beta4 subtype

Molecular Pharmacology
Susan C HernandezK J Kellar

Abstract

The rat pineal gland contains a high density of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We characterized the pharmacology of the binding sites and function of these receptors, measured the nAChR subunit mRNA, and used subunit-specific antibodies to establish the receptor subtype as defined by subunit composition. In ligand binding studies, [3H]epibatidine ([3H]EB) binds with an affinity of approximately 100 pM to nAChRs in the pineal gland, and the density of these sites is approximately 5 times that in rat cerebral cortex. The affinities of nicotinic drugs for binding sites in the pineal gland are similar to those at alpha3beta4 nAChRs heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. In functional studies, the potencies and efficacies of nicotinic drugs to activate or block whole-cell currents in dissociated pinealocytes match closely their potencies and efficacies to activate or block 86Rb+ efflux in the cells expressing heterologous alpha3beta4 nAChRs. Measurements of mRNA indicated the presence of transcripts for alpha3, beta2, and beta4 nAChR subunits but not those for alpha2, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, alpha7, or beta3 subunits. Immunoprecipitation with subunit-specific antibodies showed that virtua...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·P Whiting, J Lindstrom
Jun 28, 1974·Science·J Axelrod
Dec 1, 1996·Die Naturwissenschaften·H W KorfJ H Stehle
May 13, 1999·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W XuA L Beaudet
Mar 16, 2004·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·Yingxian Xiao, Kenneth J Kellar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 1, 2006·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·Cecilia GottiFrancesco Clementi
Aug 28, 2010·Journal of Neurochemistry·Ermelinda LomazzoKenneth J Kellar
Aug 3, 2011·Journal of Neurochemistry·Ermelinda LomazzoKenneth J Kellar
Feb 21, 2014·American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology·Jin-Young YoonDuk-Su Koh
Apr 4, 2014·American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology·Hiroya MizutaniYuji Imaizumi
Apr 21, 2007·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·David C PerryKenneth J Kellar
Sep 1, 2005·Molecular Pharmacology·Andrea M MarrittKenneth J Kellar
Aug 3, 2006·Molecular Pharmacology·Danyan MaoKenneth J Kellar
May 6, 2021·Neurology·Cyndya A ShibaoItalo Biaggioni
Aug 30, 2008·Neuropharmacology·Neil S Millar, Cecilia Gotti
May 18, 2011·Biochemical Pharmacology·Christopher G Baddick, Michael J Marks

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.