Back to Search
Start Over
Nicotine induces dendritic spine remodeling in cultured hippocampal neurons.
- Source :
-
Journal of Neurochemistry . Jan2014, Vol. 128 Issue 2, p246-255. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Cholinergic neurons in the CNS are involved in synaptic plasticity and cognition. Both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) influence plasticity and cognitive function. The mechanism underlying nAChR-induced plasticity, however, has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate morphological changes in dendritic spines following activation of α4β2* nAChRs, which are expressed on glutamatergic pre-synaptic termini of cultured hippocampal neurons. Exposure of the neurons to nicotine resulted in a lateral enlargement of spine heads. This was abolished by dihydro-β-erythroidine, an antagonist of α4β2* nAChRs, but not by α-bungarotoxin, an antagonist of α7 nAChRs. Tetanus toxin or a mixture of 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, antagonists of NMDA- and AMPA-type glutamate receptors, blocked the nicotine-induced spine remodeling. In addition, nicotine exerted full spine-enlarging response in the post-synaptic neuron whose β2 nAChR expression was knocked down. Finally, pre-treatment with nicotine enhanced the Ca2+-response of the neurons to glutamate. These data suggest that nicotine influences the activity of glutamatergic neurotransmission through the activation of pre-synaptic α4β2 nAChRs, resulting in the modulation of spinal architecture and responsiveness. The present findings may represent one of the cellular mechanisms underlying cholinergic tuning of brain function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00223042
- Volume :
- 128
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Neurochemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 93468408
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.12470