Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Modified In Vivo Matrix Gel Plug Assay for Angiogenesis Studies
Published on: June 30, 2023
Endothelial nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and angiogenesis
John P Cooke1, Yohannes T Ghebremariam
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. john.cooke@stanford.edu
Abstract:
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were first described in non-excitable cells just more than a decade ago. The nAChRs on endothelial cells modulate key angiogenic processes, including endothelial cell survival, proliferation, and migration. The receptors may be stimulated by endogenous agonists such as acetylcholine, or exogenous chemicals such as nicotine, to activate physiologic angiogenesis (such as in wound healing) or pathologic angiogenesis (such as retinal neovascularization or tumor angiogenesis). The endothelial nAChRs may represent a target for therapeutic modulation of disorders characterized by insufficient or pathologic angiogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Angiogenesis
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:

