Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Mouse Keratinocytes from Neonatal and Adult Mouse Skin
Published on: July 14, 2017
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation impairs epidermal permeability barrier function and recovery and
Brenda J Curtis1, Jennifer K Plichta, Hanz Blatt
1Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Aim:
To characterize how nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) influence epidermal barrier function and recovery following prolonged stress or direct nAChR activation or antagonism.
Main Methods:
Mice were subjected to psychological stress or treated topically with nAChR agonist or antagonist for 3 days. We assessed barrier permeability and recovery by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL) before and after barrier disruption. In parallel, we analyzed the production and localization of several epidermal cornified envelope proteins in mouse skin and in human EpiDerm™ organotypic constructs stimulated with a nAChR agonist (nicotine) and/or a nAChR selective antagonist (α-bungarotoxin).
Key Findings:
We determined that psychological stress in mice impairs barrier permeability function and recovery, an effect that is reversed by application of the α7 selective nAChR antagonist, α-bungarotoxin (Bung). In the absence of stress, both topical nicotine or Bung treatment alone impaired barrier permeability. We further observed that stress, topical nicotine, or topical Bung treatment in mice influenced the abundance and/or localization of filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin. Similar alterations in these three major cornified envelope proteins were observed in human EpiDerm™ cultures.
Significance:
Perceived psychological stress and nicotine usage can both initiate or exacerbate several dermatoses by altering the cutaneous permeability barrier. Modulation of nAChRs by topical agonists or antagonists may be used to improve epidermal barrier function in skin diseases associated with defects in epidermal barrier permeability.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...

