Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the ascending dopamine pathways

• Published in: Biochemical pharmacology Vol. 78; no. 7; pp. 744 - 755
• Main Authors: Livingstone, Phil D., Wonnacott, Susan
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Acetylcholine - physiology; Action Potentials; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Corpus Striatum - metabolism; Dopamine - metabolism; Medical sciences; Mesencephalon - cytology; Mesencephalon - physiology; Midbrain; Neural Pathways - cytology; Neural Pathways - physiology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Nicotine; Nicotine - pharmacology; Nucleus accumbens; Nucleus Accumbens - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - metabolism; Protein Subunits - biosynthesis; Receptors, Nicotinic - biosynthesis; Receptors, Nicotinic - physiology; Rodentia; iGluR; VTA; MLA; ELK; RRF; DARPP-32; LTP; PFC; NAc; CREB; IPSC; nAChR; NMDA; EPSC; FSCV; PKA; CPu; SNc; Midbrain; Prefrontal cortex; PPn; αBgt; Nucleus accumbens; LDTn; SNr; DHβE; GABA; Acetylcholine; ERK; Nicotine; Dopamine; Central nervous system; Basal ganglion; Catecholamine; Encephalon; Alkaloid; Cholinergic receptor; Neurotransmitter; Nicotinic receptor; LDT
• ISSN: 0006-2952; 1873-2968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.06.004

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) affect dopamine cell firing and release probability in three major ascending pathways; nigrostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical. nAChRs are therefore poised to modulate multiple brain functions. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely expressed in midbrain dopamine neurons that project to dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. Thus nAChRs can influence the functions of these three pathways, notably motor control, ‘reward’ and executive function, respectively. Diverse subtypes of nAChRs have been identified on dopamine cell bodies and terminals as well as on neighbouring afferents and interneurons. Here we review the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which nAChRs exert their influence on these pathways in rodents.