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Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors involved in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro
Author(s) -
Zhou Chang,
Wen Zhexing,
Shi Dongmei,
Xie Zuoping
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/j.cellbi.2003.10.005
Subject(s) - neural stem cell , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , neuroscience , acetylcholine , biology , neurogenesis , progenitor cell , microbiology and biotechnology , neural development , acetylcholine receptor , stem cell , receptor , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene
Neural stem cells (NSCs) are currently considered powerful candidates for cell therapy in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. However, it is not known when and how NSCs begin to differentiate functionally. Recent reports suggest that classical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (Ach) are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, suggesting that neurotransmitters play an important regulatory role in development of the central nervous system (CNS). We have shown by calcium imaging and immunochemistry that proliferation and differentiation are enhanced by M2 muscarinic Ach receptors (mAchR) expressed on the NSC surface and on their neural progeny. Moreover, atropine, an mAchR antagonist, blocks the enhancement and inhibits the subsequent differentiation of NSCs. Further understanding of this neural‐nutrition role of Ach might elucidate fetal brain development, the brain's response to injury, and learning and memory.