Nicotine and alpha-bungarotoxin modify the dendritic growth of cholinoceptive neurons in the developing chick tectum.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been suggested to participate in morphogenetic processes during development of the nervous system. In this study, nicotine applied both in ovo and in vitro produced a reduction of the neuritic length of cholinoceptive neurons of the developing chick tectum, whereas alpha-bungarotoxin produced the opposite effect. Taken together with previous data, our results are indicative of a role of the alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive nicotinic receptors in neural development.
Torrão
Andréa S
AS
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1524, 05508-900 São Paulo, S.P., Brazil. andrea@fisio.icb.usp.br
Lindstrom
Jon M
JM
Britto
Luiz R G
LR
D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine