RGD Reference Report - Molecular and physiological diversity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the midbrain dopaminergic nuclei. - Rat Genome Database

Send us a Message



Submit Data |  Help |  Video Tutorials |  News |  Publications |  Download |  REST API |  Citing RGD |  Contact   

Molecular and physiological diversity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the midbrain dopaminergic nuclei.

Authors: Klink, R  De Kerchove d'Exaerde, A  Zoli, M  Changeux, JP 
Citation: Klink R, etal., J Neurosci. 2001 Mar 1;21(5):1452-63.
RGD ID: 8554133
Pubmed: PMID:11222635   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC6762941   (View Article at PubMed Central)

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on dopaminergic (DA) and GABAergic (Gaba) projection neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are characterized by single-cell RT-PCR and patch-clamp recordings in slices of rat and wild-type, beta2-/-, alpha4-/-, and alpha7-/- mice. The eight nAChR subunits expressed in these nuclei, alpha3-7 and beta2-4, contribute to four different types of nAChR-mediated currents. Most DA neurons in the SN and VTA express two nAChR subtypes. One is inhibited by dihydro-beta-erythroidine (2 microm), alpha-conotoxin MII (10 nm), and methyllycaconitine (1 nm) but does not contain the alpha7 subunit; it possesses a putative alpha4alpha6alpha5(beta2)(2) composition. The other subtype is inhibited by dihydro-beta-erythroidine (2 microm) and has a putative alpha4alpha5(beta2)(2) composition. Gaba neurons in the VTA exhibit a third subtype with a putative (alpha4)(2)(beta2)(3) composition, whereas Gaba neurons in the SN have either the putative (alpha4)(2)(beta2)(3) oligomer or the putative alpha4alpha6alpha5(beta2)(2) oligomer. The fourth subtype, a putative (alpha7)(5) homomer, is encountered in less than half of DA and Gaba neurons, in the SN as well as in the VTA. Neurons in the DA nuclei thus exhibit a diversity of nAChRs that might differentially modulate reinforcement and motor behavior.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
regulation of membrane potential acts_upstream_of_or_withinIDA 8554133PMID:11222635MGI 

Molecular Function
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
acetylcholine-gated monoatomic cation-selective channel activity enablesIDA 8554133PMID:11222635MGI 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Chrna7  (cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit)


Additional Information