title: Cholinergic channel activators: novel opportunities for the treatment of CNS disorders.
abstract: Negative connotations associated with the use of (-)-nicotine has limited medicinal chemistry research in the area of nAChRs [5]. However, recent evidence suggests that a diversity of nAChR subunits exist, that each subtype may be involved in mediating specific neurochemical/behaviors, and that these subtypes have a defined pharmacology that may be selectively targeted [1]. (+/-)-Epibatidine, GTS-21 and ABT-418 differentially interact with nAChR subtypes to elicit a diversity of behavioral effects including analgesia, neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement. These agents therefore represent important new pharmacological probes to dissect the nAChR subtype(s) mediating specific pharmacological responses to nAChR activation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001597:Benzylidene Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001597:Benzylidene Compounds; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D007473:Ion Channels; D007555:Isoxazoles; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C088383:3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole; C088936:3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)anabaseine; C082748:epibatidine