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Localization of nicotinic receptor subunit mRNAs in monkey brain by in situ hybridization
Author(s) -
Quik Maryka,
Polonskaya Yelena,
Gillespie Alison,
Jakowec Michael,
Lloyd G. Kenneth,
Langston J. William
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9861(20000911)425:1<58::aid-cne6>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - biology , neuroscience , nicotinic agonist , in situ hybridization , human brain , putamen , forebrain , thalamus , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor , receptor , central nervous system , messenger rna , genetics , gene
Nicotinic receptors are implicated in memory, learning, locomotor activity, and addiction. Identification of the specific receptor subtypes that mediate these behaviors is essential for understanding their role in central nervous system (CNS) function. Although expression of nicotinic receptor transcript has been studied in rodent brain, their localization in the monkey CNS, which may be a better model for the human brain, is not yet known. We therefore investigated the distribution of α4, α6, α7, β2, β3, and β4 receptors subunit mRNAs in the monkey brain by using in situ hybridization. α4 and α7 mRNAs were very widely expressed, with a substantial degree of overlap in their distribution, except for the reticular nucleus of the thalamus in which α7 mRNA was much more prominently expressed. β2 and β4 mRNA were also widely distributed, although β4 was more prominently localized in thalamic nuclei than β2. The distribution of α6 and β3 mRNA was very distinct from that of the other transcripts, being restricted to catecholaminergic nuclei, the cerebellum, and a few other areas. Although there were similarities in distribution of the nicotinic receptor subunit mRNAs in monkey and rodent brain, there were prominent differences in areas such as the caudate, putamen, locus coeruleus, medial habenula, and cerebellum. In fact, the distribution of α4 and α7 mRNAs in the monkey caudate and putamen was more similar to that reported in the human than rodent brain. These findings have implications for the development of drug therapies for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, in which nicotinic receptors are decreased. J. Comp. Neurol. 425:58–69, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.