Nicotine, the primary psychoactive agent in tobacco leaves, has led to the widespread use of
tobacco, with over one billion smokers globally. This article provides a historical overview of …

Dendrites represent the “reception hub” of the neuron as they collect thousands of different
inputs and send a coherent response to the cell body. A considerable portion of these …

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can induce neurotoxicity, but the mechanism of
their toxicity on the cholinergic system and locomotion behavior remains unclear. In this …

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a potential drug target for treating cognitive
disorders, mediates communication between neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Although …

Background and Purpose α4β2 nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) comprise the most
abundant class of nAChRs in the nervous system. They assemble in two stoichiometric …

Background and Purpose α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors assemble in two
stoichiometric forms, one of which is potentiated by calcium. The sites of calcium binding that …

Agonists are ligands that bind to receptors and activate them. In the case of ligand-gated ion
channels, such as the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, mechanisms of agonist …

Schizophrenia is a chronic, devastating mental disorder with complex genetic components.
Given the advancements in the molecular genetic research of schizophrenia in recent years …

The α9α10 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated pentameric cation-
permeable ion channel that mediates synaptic transmission between descending efferent …

Drug modulation of the α7 acetylcholine receptor has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for
neurological, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory disorders. α7 is a homo-pentamer …