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Related Concept Videos

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic

Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
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...
Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
Determination01:51

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
Tooth Anatomy01:21

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...

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Age-Associated Tooth Loss and Oral Microbial Dysbiosis in a Mouse Genetic Model of Chronic Nicotine Exposure.

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Inhaled aerosolized nicotine suppresses the lung eosinophilic response to house dust mite allergen.

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Lung eosinophilia induced by house dust mites or ovalbumin is modulated by nicotinic receptor α7 and inhibited by cigarette smoke.

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Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons
12:19

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Nicotinic receptor Alpha7 expression during tooth morphogenesis reveals functional pleiotropy.

Scott W Rogers1, Lorise C Gahring

  • 1Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Administration, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America. Scott.Rogers@hsc.utah.edu

Plos One
|June 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a dynamic role in tooth development, influencing mesenchyme and ameloblast function. While not essential for tooth shape, its absence alters enamel formation and organization.

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Analysis of Developing Tooth Germ Innervation Using Microfluidic Co-culture Devices
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Localization of Plasma Membrane and Intracellular Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Using Quantitative Imaging in Mammalian Cells
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Analysis of Developing Tooth Germ Innervation Using Microfluidic Co-culture Devices
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Published on: August 14, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Oral Biology

Background:

  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha7 subtype expression is crucial in various developmental processes.
  • Understanding nAChR alpha7's role in tooth development can reveal insights into craniofacial morphogenesis and innervation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatiotemporal expression of the nAChR alpha7 subtype during mouse tooth development.
  • To determine the functional significance of nAChR alpha7 in tooth organogenesis and adult tooth structure.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized genetically modified mice (alpha7GFP and alpha7Cre) to track nAChR alpha7 expression.
  • Employed conditional ablation strategies (alpha7Cre×ROSA26-LoxP-diphtheria toxin A) to study lineage-specific functions.
  • Analyzed tooth development and adult incisor structure using high-resolution micro-computed tomography.

Main Results:

  • nca7GFP expression was observed in condensing mesenchyme, ameloblasts, and during tooth innervation stages.
  • Ablation of the alpha7-cell lineage led to reduced mesenchyme and altered ectoderm patterning.
  • Alpha7 knockout mice showed normal tooth size/shape but had reduced enamel volume and altered enamel rod organization.

Conclusions:

  • nca7 exhibits distinct and dynamic spatiotemporal expression patterns during tooth development.
  • The alpha7 nAChR is dispensable for overall tooth size and shape but critical for proper ameloblast function and enamel formation.
  • Dysfunction of the alpha7 nAChR can lead to significant alterations in adult tooth structure and enamel quality.