Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in the hippocampus of 27 mouse strains reveals novel inhibitory circuitry

✍ Scribed by Lorise C. Gahring; Scott W. Rogers

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 675 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1050-9631
• DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20430

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Mouse strains are well‐characterized to exhibit differences in their physiological and behavioral responses to nicotine. This report examines the expression of the high‐affinity nicotine binding receptor subunit, neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit alpha4 (nAChRα4), in the dorsal hippocampus of 27 inbred mouse strains. Multiple differences among mouse strains in the cellular expression of nAChRα4 between subregions of the hippocampal field are evident. Differences that we describe in the expression of nAChRα4 suggest mouse strains of diverse genetic origin could exhibit significant variation in how this receptor contributes to modulating intrahippocampal circuitry. These findings define a genetic frame‐work in which the strain‐specific responses to nicotine include underlying contributions by the varied anatomical context in which nAChRs are expressed. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.