Abstract
Consideration of the activation and desensitization properties of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) predicts that there should be a range of concentrations over which low ambient levels of agonist can continuously open nAChR channels. These findings support the idea that postsynaptic nAChRs may participate in unconventional cellular signaling mediated by the release of acetylcholine from diffusely distributed non-synaptic cholinergic varicosities.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Calcium / physiology
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Choline / pharmacology
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Habenula / cytology
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Habenula / metabolism
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Habenula / physiology
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Neurons / drug effects*
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Nicotine / pharmacology
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Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Receptors, Nicotinic / drug effects*
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Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism*
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
Substances
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Nicotinic Agonists
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Receptors, Nicotinic
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nicotinic receptor alpha3beta4
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Nicotine
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Choline
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Calcium