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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Nicotinic Receptors in Human Brain
Alfred MaelickeEzio GiacobiniChristina BirtschMona GhobrialAndrea WeversHannsjörg Schrödersubject
Cell typeReceptor expressionCentral nervous systemHuman brainIn situ hybridizationBiologyNicotinic acetylcholine receptorNicotinic agonistmedicine.anatomical_structurenervous systemmedicinesense organsNeuroscienceAcetylcholine receptordescription
A vast knowledge is currently available on the molecular biology and the pharmacology of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) (Sargent, 1993). Only few attempts have been made to approach the expression of nAChRs at the level of functional systems, considering the different cell types involved and their connectivity. This aspect is of particular importance in order to evaluate nAChR expression under pathological conditions. Histochemical techniques have proven to be useful since immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization can be performed on human autopsy tissue and allow for a cell type-specific localization of nAChR proteins and nAChR mRNAs. Furthermore, morphometry enables the quantitative assessment of receptor expression at the cellular level.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-01-01 |