Relationship Between Nicotine-Induced Seizures and Hippocampal Nicotinic Receptors

摘要

A controversy has existed for several years concerning the physiological relevance of the nicotinic receptor measured by alpha-bungarotoxin binding. Using mice derived from a classical F2 and backcross generic design, a relationship between nicotine-induced seizures and alpha bungarotoxin nicrotinic receptor concentration was found. Mice sensitive to the convulsant effects of nicotine had greater alpha-bungarotoxin binding in the hippocampus than seizure insensitive mice. The binding sites form seizure sensitive and resistant mice were qually affected by treatment with dithiothreitol, trysin, or heat. Thus it appears that the difference between seizure sensitive and insensitive animals may be due to a difference in hippocampal nicotinic receptor concentration as measured with alpha-bungarotoxin binding. (Reprints).