Changes in the number, function, and regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors during neuronal development

Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) development was examined in neurons freshly isolated from chick ciliary ganglia. Between Embryonic Day 8 (E8) and 16, both the ACh response per unit membrane and the density of surface AChRs increased, while the apparent affinity for ACh decreased. AChRs had single-channel conductances of 25 and 40 pS. The distribution of single-channel events shifted during development; at E8 events of both conductances were equally rare, while by E14 there were many events and most were 40 pS. The open durations of 25 and 40 pS events had two mean values. The open lifetimes of the 25 pS events did not change between E8 and E14, while the lifetimes of the 40 pS events increased, and by E14 most were long. The ACh response of the neurons also became sensitive to regulation by a cAMP-dependent mechanism at about E10. The observed changes may reflect developmental control over processing required for receptor regulation and differential expression of AChR subtypes.