title: Nicotine and alpha-bungarotoxin modify the dendritic growth of cholinoceptive neurons in the developing chick tectum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Andréa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Torrão
authors.forename: Jon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
authors.forename: Luiz R G
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Britto
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine