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Related Concept Videos

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic

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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...
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Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
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Aging01:26

Aging

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Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
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Internal Receptors01:31

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Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
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Overview
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Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Local Application of Drugs to Study Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices
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Aging Affects Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Brain.

Yuri N Utkin1,2

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Toxinology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation.

Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
|March 22, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, crucial for brain function, decline with age, leading to cognitive impairment. Understanding these changes is key to developing treatments for age-related neurodegeneration and promoting healthy longevity.

Keywords:
Agingbrainimagingligand bindingneurodegenerationneuronneurotransmissionnicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

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Probing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices via Laser Flash Photolysis of Photoactivatable Nicotine
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Aging affects the central nervous system, contributing to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
  • Molecular mechanisms of age-related neurodegeneration are not fully understood.
  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are implicated in brain aging and neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in brain aging.
  • To explore their involvement in neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in aging and neurodegeneration.

Main Results:

  • Specific subtypes, alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are affected during normal aging.
  • Loss of these receptors contributes to cognitive impairments in older individuals.
  • Decreased receptor function is significant in the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Establishing molecular processes during aging is vital for healthy longevity.
  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play a critical role in brain aging and degeneration.
  • Therapies targeting these receptors may treat cognitive dysfunction in the elderly.