RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Functional Mapping and Ca2+ Regulation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Channels in Rat Hippocampal CA1 Neurons JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 9024 OP 9031 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-27-09024.2003 VO 23 IS 27 A1 Leonard Khiroug A1 Rashid Giniatullin A1 Rebecca C. Klein A1 Dmitriy Fayuk A1 Jerrel L. Yakel YR 2003 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/27/9024.abstract AB Diverse subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), including fast-desensitizing α7-containing receptors thought to be Ca2+-permeable, are expressed in the CNS, where they appear to regulate cognitive processing and synaptic plasticity. To understand the physiological role of nAChRs in regulating neuronal excitability, it is important to know the distribution of functional receptors along the surface of neurons, whether they can increase [Ca2+]i, and/or are regulated by Ca2+. We mapped the distribution of receptors on the membrane of rat hippocampal CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons and pyramidal cells in acute slices by recording nAChR-mediated currents elicited by local UV laser-based photolysis of caged carbachol in patch-clamped neurons. The local application (∼7 μm patches) allowed mapping of functional nAChRs along the soma and dendritic tree, whereas the fast uncaging minimized the effects of desensitization of α7-containing nAChRs and allowed us to measure the kinetics of responses. The α7-containing nAChRs were the predominant subtype on interneurons, and were located primarily at perisomatic sites (<70 μm from the soma; in contrast to the more uniform distribution of glutamate receptors); no currents were detectable on pyramidal neurons. The activation of nAChRs increased [Ca2+]i, indicating that these native receptors in acute slices are significantly Ca2+-permeable, consistent with previous observations made with recombinant receptors. In addition, they exhibited strong desensitization, the rate of recovery from which was controlled by [Ca2+]i. Our results demonstrate the strategic location and Ca2+ regulation of α7-containing nAChRs, which may contribute to understanding their involvement in hippocampal plasticity.