Neurotransmitter regulation of neural development: acetylcholine and nicotinic receptors.
Several neurotransmitter systems have been related to developmental processes during the past decade. In this review, we discuss the evidence that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors could have an additional function during development that may be unrelated to their role in cholinergic neurotransmission in the vertebrate brain. Both temporal expression data and in vitro and in vivo studies with nicotinic agonists and antagonists have provided direct support for a role of nicotinic receptors in neural developmental processes such as neurite outgrowth and differentiation. A similar picture has emerged for other neurotransmitter and receptor systems as well, which generates a new view of neural processes during both development and mature life.
Torrão
Andréa S
AS
Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Britto
Luiz R G
LR
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000502:physiology*
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine