Regulation of neuron cholinoreceptor plasticity of Helix lucorum by second messengers and opioids

The rhythmical local ionophoretic applications of acetylcholine (ACh) to the somatic membrane of Helix lucorum identified neurons evokes the reversible depression of the ACh-induced response which shows cholinoreceptor (ChR) desensitization. ChR desensitization is regulated not by one but by several known second messengers and G-proteins. The endogenous opioids perform the excitation or inhibitory tonic control of the membrane potential in some neurons constantly activating the ionotropic opiate receptors. The direction of neuron ChR desensitization modulation by opioids depends on the type of the activated modulatory opiate receptors (mu or kappa) on the neuron membrane. Second messengers are involved in intracellular mechanism of modulation of the ChR desensitization by opiate kappa-agonist bremazocine.