Abstract
The diversity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes was explored by measuring the effects of gene deletion and pharmacological diversity of epibatidine binding sites in mouse brain. All epibatidine binding sites require expression of either the alpha7, beta2, or beta4 subunit. In agreement with general belief, the alpha4beta2*-nAChR and alpha7-nAChR subtypes are major components of the epibatidine binding sites. alpha4beta2*-nAChR sites account for approximately 70% of total high- and low-affinity epibatidine binding sites, while alpha7-nAChR accounts for 16% of the total sites all of which have lower affinity for epibatidine. The other subtypes are structurally diverse. Although these minor subtypes account for only 14% of total binding in whole brain, they are expressed at relatively high concentrations in specific brain areas indicating unique functional roles.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Binding Sites / drug effects
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Binding Sites / genetics
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Brain / drug effects*
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Brain / metabolism*
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Brain Chemistry / genetics
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Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / pharmacology*
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Gene Deletion
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology*
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Protein Subunits / analysis
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Protein Subunits / classification
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Protein Subunits / drug effects
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Pyridines / pharmacology*
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Receptors, Nicotinic / analysis
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Receptors, Nicotinic / drug effects*
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Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
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Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism*
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
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Synaptic Transmission / genetics
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Substances
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Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
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Chrna7 protein, mouse
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Nicotinic Agonists
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Protein Subunits
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Pyridines
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Receptors, Nicotinic
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
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nicotinic receptor alpha4beta2
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epibatidine