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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons
Published on: June 24, 2015
Nicotinic Receptors in Human Chromaffin Cells: Characterization, Functional and Physical Interactions between
Amanda Jiménez-Pompa1, Almudena Albillos1
1Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 4 Arzobispo Morcillo Str., 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
This review summarizes our research on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in human chromaffin cells. Limited research has been conducted in this field on human tissue, primarily due to the difficulties associated with obtaining human cells. Receptor subtypes were characterized here using molecular biology and electrophysiological patch-clamp techniques. However, the most significant aspect of this study refers to the cross-talk between the two main subtypes identified in these cells, the α7- and α3β4* subtypes, aiming to avoid their desensitization. The article also reviews other aspects, including the regulation of their expression, function or physical interaction by choline, Ca2+, and tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphatases. Additionally, the influence of sex on their expression is also discussed.
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