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Local Application of Drugs to Study Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices
Published on: October 29, 2012
Functional properties and developmental regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on embryonic chicken
B L Moss1, S M Schuetze, L W Role
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Abstract:
Measurement of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced currents indicates that the sensitivity of embryonic sympathetic neurons increases following innervation in vivo and in vitro. We have used single-channel recording to assess the contribution of changes in ACh receptor properties to this increase. Early in development (before synaptogenesis), we detect three classes of ACh-activated channels that differ in their conductance and kinetics. Molecular studies indicating a variety of neuronal receptor subunit clones suggest a similar diversity. Later in development (after innervation), changes in functional properties include increases in conductance and apparent mean open time, the addition of a new conductance class, as well as apparent clustering and segregation of channel types. These changes in channel function are compatible with the developmental increase in ACh sensitivity.
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