title: The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist ABT-594 increases FGF-2 expression in various rat brain regions.
abstract: The present experiments were designed to extend previous work showing that acute intermittent (-)nicotine treatment upregulates the level of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) mRNA in several rat brain regions, by the use of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist ABT-594 with preferential selectivity for the alpha4beta2 nAChR subtype. ABT594 treatment led to a well-defined temporal and regional upregulation of FGF-2 mRNA. A double labelling analysis showed that the up-regulation of FGF-2 mRNA involves both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. The effects of ABT-594 on FGF-2 expression were antagonized by the preferential alpha4beta2 antagonist dihydrobetaerythroidine (DHbetaE), but not by alpha7 antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA). In conclusion, FGF-2 mRNA levels can be increased in several brain regions upon alpha4beta2 nAChR activation, suggesting a therapeutic significance in neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belluardo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mudò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caniglia
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuxe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001384:Azetidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004079:Dihydro-beta-Erythroidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C109763:5-(2-azetidinylmethoxy)-2-chloropyridine; D001384:Azetidines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004079:Dihydro-beta-Erythroidine