Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) can be modulated by a number of neurotransmitter receptors including muscarinic and GABAergic receptor types. We have found that a novel nicotinic agonist, 2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine (DMXB), facilitated the induction of LTP in the hippocampus in a dose-dependent and mecamylamine-sensitive manner. DMXB displaced high affinity nicotinic [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin and [3H]acetylcholine binding in rat brain. Xenopus oocyte studies demonstrated that DMXB has agonist activity at alpha 7 but not alpha 4/beta 2 nicotinic receptor subtypes. These results indicated that DMXB is a novel nicotinic agonist with apparent specificity for the alpha 7/alpha-bungarotoxin nicotinic receptor subtype and indicate that nicotinic receptor activation is capable of modulating the induction of long-term potentiation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism
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Acetylcholine / pharmacology
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Benzylidene Compounds / pharmacology*
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Binding, Competitive
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Brain / metabolism
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Bungarotoxins / metabolism
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Cell Membrane / metabolism
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Electric Stimulation
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Evoked Potentials / drug effects
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Female
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Hippocampus / drug effects
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Hippocampus / physiology*
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In Vitro Techniques
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Kinetics
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Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects*
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Male
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Mecamylamine / pharmacology
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Oocytes / drug effects
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Oocytes / physiology
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Pyridines / pharmacology*
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Rats
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Receptors, Cholinergic / drug effects
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Receptors, Cholinergic / metabolism
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Receptors, Nicotinic / drug effects
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Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism
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Receptors, Nicotinic / physiology*
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Xenopus
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Substances
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Benzylidene Compounds
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Bungarotoxins
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Chrna7 protein, rat
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Pyridines
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Receptors, Nicotinic
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
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Mecamylamine
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Acetylcholine