title: Effect of memantine on the alpha 7 neuronal nicotinic receptors, synaptophysin- and low molecular weight MAP-2 levels in the brain of transgenic mice over-expressing human acetylcholinesterase.
abstract: Transgenic mice over-expressing human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE-Tg) display memory impairments, cholinergic deficits and reduced dendritic branching. In this study, we found a reduced number of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) binding sites and reduced levels of low molecular weight (LMW) microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2), in addition to an increased number of alpha4 and alpha7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) binding sites in the brain of hAChE-Tg mice. Treatment with memantine, 20 mg/kg/day during 14 days, significantly increased the number of [(125)I]alphabungarotoxin (alpha7 nAChR) binding sites in the frontal- and retrosplenial cortex of hAChE-Tg mice and synaptophysin- and LMW MAP-2 levels in the cortex of both hAChE-Tg and FVB/N controls. The findings reveal an alteration of the glutamatergic system in hAChE-Tg mice. Whether the effect of memantine on alpha7 nAChRs, synaptophysin- and LMW MAP-2 levels is a direct effect, or an indirect effect via the NMDA receptors, has to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Neurotec Department, Division of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Svedberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bednar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordberg
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008559:Memantine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; C579166:Chrna7 protein, mouse; C489788:MAP2 protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D016708:Synaptophysin; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D008559:Memantine