Search results for "choline"
showing 10 items of 1138 documents
Behavioral effects of different enriched environments in mice treated with the cholinergic agonist PNU-282987.
2013
Abstract Environmental enrichment is an experimental model in which rodents are housed in complex environments that favor lower levels of anxiety-like behavior. PNU-282987 (PNU) is a α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist with beneficial effects on learning though its effects on anxiety are unclear. Our main aim was to carry out a study of its effects in NMRI ( n = 96) mice reared in different environments: environmental enrichment (EE), Marlau™ cages (MC) and standard environment (SE). After a 4-month period, mice received acute treatment of PNU (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) and were evaluated in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board (HB). In the EPM, both EE and MC reared mice showed …
Interaction between cannabinoid CB1 receptors and endogenous ATP in the control of spontaneous mechanical activity in mouse ileum
2009
Background and purpose Although it is well accepted that cannabinoids modulate intestinal motility by reducing cholinergic neurotransmission mediated by CB(1) receptors, it is not known whether the endocannabinoids are involved in more complex circuits and if they interact with other systems. The aim of the present study was to examine possible interactions between cannabinoid CB(1) receptors and purines in the control of spontaneous contractility of longitudinal muscle in mouse ileum. Experimental approach The mechanical activity of longitudinally oriented ileal segments from mice was recorded as isometric contractions. Key results The selective CB(1) receptor agonist, N-(2-chloroethyl)5,8…
DIFFERENT ABILITY OF TRIFLUOPERAZINE TO INHIBIT AGONIST-INDUCED CONTRACTION OF LUNG PARENCHYMA STRIPS FROM CONTROL AND SENSITIZED GUINEA-PIGS
1988
Abstract There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of calcium antagonists in asthma. Among them the use of calmodulin antagonists deserves consideration. In the present work the effect of trifluoperazine on contractions generated by different mechanisms (CaCl2, KCl, acetylcholine, histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) in lung parenchyma strip isolated from control and actively sensitized guinea-pigs has been studied. Trifluoperazine produced both in unsensitized and sensitized lung strips, a concentration-dependent, right, downward displacement of the concentration-response curves to the agonists used, although the sensitization procedure resulted in a potentiation in the abili…
Glycopyrronium bromide blocks differentially responses mediated by muscarinic receptor subtypes.
1993
To analyse the potency of glycopyrronium bromide in blocking responses mediated via subtypes of muscarinic receptors in vitro, we tried to determine its equilibrium dissociation constants at prejunctional muscarinic receptors inhibiting the twitch response of rabbit vas deferens (presumed M1 type), at M2 (paced at left atria), M3 (guinea pig ileum) muscarinic receptor subtypes and at the muscarinic receptor of the rabbit iris sphincter (not M1-M4, not m5). Glycopyrronium bromide shifted to the right the curve for inhibition of the twitch response induced by the agonist McN-A-343, and the methacholine-induced curves for inhibition of rat atrial contraction, and for tonic contraction of guine…
Tachykinin NK(2) receptors facilitate acetylcholine release from guinea-pig isolated trachea.
2000
The release of newly synthesised [3H]acetylcholine was evoked by electrical field stimulation (5 Hz, 600 pulses) of epithelium-deprived guinea-pig trachea strips after sensory neuropeptides depletion with 3 microM capsaicin. The selective tachykinin NK(2) receptor agonist [betaAla(8)]neurokinin A-(4-10) increased in a concentration-dependent manner the electrically-induced release of [3H]acetylcholine. The facilitatory effect was antagonised by the selective non-peptide tachykinin NK(2) receptor antagonist, SR 48968 (apparent pK(B) 8.9). The tachykinin NK(1) and NK(3) receptor agonists substance P methyl ester and senktide (both 10 and 100 nM), respectively, did not affect the evoked releas…
Choline is a Selective Agonist of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Rat Brain Neurons
1998
In the present study, we demonstrate that choline, a precursor of acetylcholine (ACh) and a product of acetylcholine hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acts as an efficient and relatively selective agonist of alpha7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in neurons cultured from the rat hippocampus, olfactory bulb and thalamus as well as in PC12 cells. Choline was able to activate postsynaptic and presynaptic alpha7 nAChRs, with the latter action resulting in the release of other neurotransmitters. Although choline was approximately one order of magnitude less potent than ACh (EC50 of 1.6 mM for choline and 0.13 mM for ACh), it acted as a full agonist at alpha7 nAChRs.…
Agonist potency differentiates G protein activation and Ca2+ signalling by the orexin receptor type 1.
2005
The G protein coupling characteristics of a flag epitope-tagged orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R) was investigated in HEK293 cells. Immunoprecipitation of the OX1R and immunoblotting revealed interactions with Gq/G11 proteins as well as with Gs and Gi proteins. Stimulation with orexin-A did not affect the ability of the OX1R to coprecipitate Gq/G11 proteins, but it robustly elevated the intracellular concentration of Ca2+, [Ca2+]i. No changes in cAMP levels could be detected upon receptor stimulation. To get further insight into the functional correlation of G protein activation and Ca2+ signalling, we used baculovirus transduction to express chimeric G proteins, containing the Galphas protein …
Introductory Lecture: Allosteric Modulation of Torpedo Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ion Channel Activity by Noncompetitive Agonists
1997
AbstractSimilar to other neuroreceptors of the vertebrate central nervous system, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is subject to modulatory control by allosterically acting ligands. Of particular interest in this regard are allosteric ligands that enhance the sensitivity of the receptor to its natural agonist acetylcholine (ACh), as such ligands could be useful as drugs in diseases associated with impaired nicotinic neurotransmission. Here we discuss the action of a novel class of nAChR ligands which act as allosterically potentiating ligands (APL) on the nicotinic responses induced by ACh and competitive agonists. In addition, APLs also act as noncompetitive agonists of very lo…
Allosteric modulation of nicotinic receptors as a treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease.
2000
Impairment of the central cholinergic system has a pivotal role in the cognitive decline observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One of the most prominent cholinergic deficits is the reduced number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the brain. Since these receptors are important for memory and learning, enhancing nicotinic neurotransmission is a promising treatment strategy for AD. The two most common approaches to correcting these cholinergic deficits are to increase the synaptic availability of acetylcholine (ACh) by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), or to mimic the effects of ACh (nicotinic agonists) by acting directly on nicotinic receptors. Clinical studi…
Acetylcholine and nicotine stimulate the release of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor from cultured human bronchial epithelial cells.
1998
Primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE-cells) were established to measure granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) release. HBE-cells showed a basal GM-CSF release (82+/-20 ng/well/24 h; 30 donors), which was increased by interleukin-1 beta(IL-1beta, 1 ng/ml) by 270%. This effect was blocked by 1 microM dactinomycin or 10 microM cycloheximide, i.e. the stimulatory effect of IL-1beta depended on de-novo synthesis. Histamine (100 microM) and acetylcholine ( 100 nM) stimulated GM-CSF release more than two-fold above the baseline. Nicotine (1 microM) increased GM-CSF release to a similar extent, and this effect was prevented by 30 microM (+)-tubocurarine. The…