REGULATION OF ?-7 NEURONAL NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS BY NICOTINE IN MIDBRAIN OF RATS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the regulation of ?-7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(?-7-nAChRs) by nicotine in the ventral tegmental area(VTA),the substantia nigra(SN) and the cortex of the rat. Methods Nicotine exposed animal models were established.The changes of ?-7-nAChRs proteins and mRNA were observed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in VTA,SN and cortex,and the expression of ?-7-nAChRs proteins by Western blotting in PC12 cells. Results The expression of ?-7-nAChRs proteins in cortex and mRNA in VTA and SN were upregulated by nicotine.The expressions of ?-7-nAChRs in PC12 cells were in proportion to and dependent on the time for nicotine to function and the dose.Conclusion Both ?-7-nAChRs mRNA in VTA and SN in transcriptional mechanism and ?-7-nAChRs protein in the cortex at the translation level were upregulated.