Article
Neurosciences
Kelly Smart, Mika Naganawa, Stephen R. Baldassarri, Nabeel Nabulsi, Jim Ropchan, Soheila Najafzadeh, Hong Gao, Antonio Navarro, Vanessa Barth, Irina Esterlis, Kelly P. Cosgrove, Yiyun Huang, Richard E. Carson, Ansel T. Hillmer
Summary: The study aimed to explore the variation of acetylcholine (Ach) across the human brain using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging estimates of drug occupancy at cholinergic receptors. Results showed consistently lower occupancy estimates within striatal regions, indicating higher ACh concentration, and provided the first in vivo estimates of regional variation in ACh concentration in the living brain.
Article
Neurosciences
Melissa A. Tapia, Xiao-Tao Jin, Brenton R. Tucker, Leanne N. Thomas, Noah B. Walker, Veronica J. Kim, Steven E. Albertson, Naresh Damuka, Ivan Krizan, Seby Edassery, Jeffrey N. Savas, Kiran Kumar Solingapuram Sai, Sara R. Jones, Ryan M. Drenan
Summary: This study investigated the behavior and neurobiological effects of intermittent nicotine intake in rats. The results suggest that intermittent nicotine intake may lead to increased craving and enhanced response to nicotine-associated cues. Additionally, intermittent nicotine intake also caused increased nicotine binding in the brain and specific changes in the proteome of certain neural structures.
Article
Neurosciences
Xiao-Tao Jin, Ryan M. Drenan
Summary: The interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) is involved in nicotine dependence and regulation of fear responses, affective states, and novelty processing. Neurons in the IPN express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) and receive cholinergic innervation. Studies have shown that IPL neurons express Chrna7 (alpha 7 nAChR subunit) and are sensitive to acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation. These findings contribute to a better understanding of cholinergic modulation in the IPN.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Yukihiro Noda, Koki Soeda, Mizuki Uchida, Sakika Goto, Takahiro Ito, Shinji Kitagaki, Takayoshi Mamiya, Akira Yoshimi, Norio Ozaki, Akihiro Mouri
Summary: The habitual smoking in patients with schizophrenia may be attributed to therapeutic effects and reduced side effects mediated by activation of α7 and α4β2 nAChR by (-)-nicotine.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Roger L. Albin, Prabesh Kanel, Teus van Laar, Sygrid van der Zee, Stiven Roytman, Robert A. Koeppe, Peter J. H. Scott, Nicolaas Bohnen
Summary: This study examined the association between regional brain [F-18]FEOBV PET binding and the use of dopamine D2-like receptor agonist drugs in subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD). The results showed that chronic use of D2-like dopamine agonists in PD subjects did not lead to significant alterations in regional brain [F-18]FEOBV binding.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sygrid van der Zee, Prabesh Kanel, Marleen J. J. Gerritsen, Jeffrey M. Boertien, Anne C. Slomp, Martijn L. T. M. Muller, Nicolaas Bohnen, Jacoba M. Spikman, Teus van Laar
Summary: This study assessed the cholinergic innervation status in early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and found that cholinergic innervation changes were associated with cognitive impairment. Regardless of cognitive status, patients showed cholinergic denervation in the posterior cortical regions. Cognitively intact patients exhibited higher cholinergic activity in the cerebellar, frontal, and subcortical regions, suggesting compensatory cholinergic upregulation in early-stage PD. Limited or failing cholinergic upregulation may play an important role in early cognitive impairment in PD.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ahmed Haider, Xiaoyun Deng, Olivia Mastromihalis, Stefanie K. Pfister, Troels E. Jeppesen, Zhiwei Xiao, Vi Pham, Shaofa Sun, Jian Rong, Chunyu Zhao, Jiahui Chen, Yinlong Li, Theresa R. Connors, April T. Davenport, James B. Daunais, Vahid Hosseini, Wenqing Ran, Arthur Christopoulos, Lu Wang, Celine Valant, Steven H. Liang
Summary: This study aimed to develop a suitable M4 PET ligand for the non-invasive visualization of M4 in the brain. The compound 12 was identified as a subtype-selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) and its radiofluorinated analogue showed moderate specificity in rodent brain sections. However, in non-human primates and humans, the presence of carbachol did not improve the specificity and selectivity of the radioligand.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Hannah J. Zhang, Matthew Zammit, Chien-Min Kao, Anitha P. Govind, Samuel Mitchell, Nathanial Holderman, Mohammed Bhuiyan, Richard Freifelder, Anna Kucharski, Xiaoxi Zhuang, Jogeshwar Mukherjee, Chin-Tu Chen, William N. Green
Summary: The distribution of nicotine and other nicotinic receptor ligands in the brain is investigated. Ligands with high pKa and affinity for cc4P2Rs, like varenicline, are trapped in intracellular acidic vesicles in vitro, while nicotine, with lower pKa and affinity, is not trapped. In vivo imaging of PET ligands in mouse brain reveals that the trapping organelle is Golgi satellites (GSats) and provides insights into the subcellular distribution of these ligands.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Omar Alijevic, Oihane Jaka, Ainhoa Alzualde, Diana Maradze, Wenhao Xia, Stefan Frentzel, Andrew N. Gifford, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: This study examined the neuropharmacological effects of natural alkaloids, including nicotine, cotinine, and anatabine. Nicotine showed anxiolytic-like behavioral effects in mice and zebrafish, while cotinine and anatabine had no detectable effects. Nicotine stimulated the release of norepinephrine and dopamine, while cotinine and anatabine mainly stimulated dopamine release. These findings suggest that natural nicotine alkaloids can induce an anxiolytic-like behavior in nonclinical animal models, which may depend on the activation of various nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and regulation of neurotransmitter systems.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Janna K. Moen, Anna M. Lee
Summary: Alcohol and nicotine, the two most widely used and misused drugs globally, show significant sex differences in their rewarding properties, yet most preclinical studies on their mechanisms utilize only male rodents. Understanding the influence of sex and sex hormones on alcohol and nicotine reward is crucial for developing therapies to reduce drug consumption.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anne Havermans, Edwin P. Zwart, Hans W. J. M. Cremers, Maarten D. M. van Schijndel, Romy S. Constant, Maja Meskovic, Laura X. Worutowicz, Jeroen L. A. Pennings, Reinskje Talhout, Leo T. M. van der Ven, Harm J. Heusinkveld
Summary: Tobacco use is the main cause of preventable death globally, with nicotine being the primary addictive compound. The zebrafish embryo has shown to be an effective model for studying the effects of nicotine, where acute nicotine exposure decreased ZFE activity in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with nicotine can reverse this effect and may lead to decreased potency of acute nicotine exposure, indicating the induction of tolerance.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Xiaoying Tan, Kent Vrana, Zheng-Ming Ding
Summary: This review summarizes the potential role of cotinine as a neuroactive metabolite of nicotine and discusses the available evidence regarding its effects. Preclinical findings show that cotinine interacts with both nAChRs and non-nAChRs in the nervous system, producing neuropharmacological and behavioral effects. Clinical studies suggest that cotinine is psychoactive in humans, but there is a lack of consensus on the mechanisms underlying its effects. Further research is needed to provide a better understanding of cotinine's actions and its contribution to tobacco addiction.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Leila Salhi, Laurence Seidel, Adelin Albert, France Lambert
Summary: The study found that the nicotine dependence level assessed by FTND could complement NCC as an important indicator in periodontal research, and the combination of both could better predict the severity of periodontitis.
JOURNAL OF PERIODONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Young-Eun Kim, Jae-Hyun Lee, Eun-Ju Lee, Do Hoon Kim, Mi Ryeong Jeong, Seokchan Hong, Chang-Keun Lee, Bin Yoo, Jeehee Youn, Eun-Ju Chang, Yong-Gil Kim
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking on immune cells and peripheral arthritis in curdlan-administered SKG mice, a murine model of spondyloarthropathy (SpA). The results showed an increase in alpha 7 nAChR+ cells in the joint tissue of the mice exposed to cigarette smoke, as well as lower peripheral arthritis and synovial inflammation scores. This suggests that smoking may have an anti-arthritic effect in curdlan-administered SKG mice.
Article
Biology
Yusei Makino, Yuuki Hiradate, Kohei Umezu, Kenshiro Hara, Kentaro Tanemura
Summary: The study revealed the localization of AChRe in murine testes and spermatozoa, and suggested that AChRe may act as a regulator of mammalian sperm AR.