Neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors are expressed throughout the brain, in the spinal cord, and in the autonomic ganglia. Eleven neuronal nAChR subunit genes were cloned and sequenced in the 1980's. Some of these subunits closely resemble the a1 subunit that is included in the nAChR that is expressed at the neuromuscular junction (the so-called peripheral-type receptor). These 01-like subunits are called: a2, a3...a10 and, with the exception of a5, provide the binding site for nicotine and other nicotinic agonists. The three remaining subunits, 02-04, are referred to as structural subunits. Enormous progress has been made towards understanding the structure and function of neuronal nAChRs using expression systems (cell lines, Xenopus laevis oocytes). For example, expression system studies have shown that subunit composition has profound effects on biophysical and pharmacological properties. The value of expression system studies has been limited, somewhat, because some of the more interesting subunits (e.g. a6,03) are not easily expressed in artificial systems. These, and other concerns, have prompted researchers to develop gene knockout (null mutant) mice for virtually every one of the known nAChR subunits. Transgenic mice have also been developed that express several gain of function mutations, or mutations that are associated with human diseases. These transgenic mice are being used to address questions such as: 1) What are the subunit compositions of naturally-occurring (i.e. native) nAChRs? 2) Where are these native receptors expressed? 3) What role do they play in modulating brain function (behavior?), and 4) What function do these receptors play in modulating addiction to nicotine, alcohol and other drugs? We have the world's most complete collection of nAChR mutant mice that are being used in several funded research projects that are centered at the University of Colorado. During the last 4 years we have built our colony from five mutant strains to 18 and have established a system where we have sent mice and/or breeding pairs to other researchers in the US and, more recently around the world (3 continents, to date). This application requests funds to support the continued maintenance and distribution of these mouse stocks.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
3P30DA015663-05S1
Application #
7620203
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-RXL-E (23))
Program Officer
Pollock, Jonathan D
Project Start
2003-05-01
Project End
2008-09-14
Budget Start
2007-02-01
Budget End
2008-09-14
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$189,375
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado at Boulder
Department
Type
DUNS #
007431505
City
Boulder
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80309
Moretti, Milena; Fasoli, Francesca; Gotti, Cecilia et al. (2018) Reduced ?4 subunit expression in ?4+- and ?4+- /?2+- nicotinic acetylcholine receptors alters ?4?2 subtype up-regulation following chronic nicotine treatment. Br J Pharmacol 175:1944-1956
Spindle, Michael S; Parsa, Pirooz V; Bowles, Spencer G et al. (2018) A dominant role for the beta 4 nicotinic receptor subunit in nicotinic modulation of glomerular microcircuits in the mouse olfactory bulb. J Neurophysiol 120:2036-2048
Kamens, Helen M; Silva, Constanza; McCarthy, Riley et al. (2017) No evidence of a role of the ?4 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in alcohol-related behaviors. BMC Res Notes 10:151
Koukouli, Fani; Rooy, Marie; Tziotis, Dimitrios et al. (2017) Nicotine reverses hypofrontality in animal models of addiction and schizophrenia. Nat Med 23:347-354
Wall, Teagan R; Henderson, Brandon J; Voren, George et al. (2017) TC299423, a Novel Agonist for Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Front Pharmacol 8:641
McClure-Begley, Tristan D; Esterlis, Irina; Stone, Kathryn L et al. (2016) Evaluation of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Associated Proteome at Baseline and Following Nicotine Exposure in Human and Mouse Cortex. eNeuro 3:
Pistillo, Francesco; Fasoli, Francesca; Moretti, Milena et al. (2016) Chronic nicotine and withdrawal affect glutamatergic but not nicotinic receptor expression in the mesocorticolimbic pathway in a region-specific manner. Pharmacol Res 103:167-76
Fasoli, F; Moretti, M; Zoli, M et al. (2016) In vivo chronic nicotine exposure differentially and reversibly affects upregulation and stoichiometry of ?4?2 nicotinic receptors in cortex and thalamus. Neuropharmacology 108:324-31
Marks, Michael J; O'Neill, Heidi C; Wynalda-Camozzi, Kelly M et al. (2015) Chronic treatment with varenicline changes expression of four nAChR binding sites in mice. Neuropharmacology 99:142-55
Stevens, Karen E; Zheng, Lijun; Floyd, Kirsten L et al. (2015) Maximizing the effect of an ?7 nicotinic receptor PAM in a mouse model of schizophrenia-like sensory inhibition deficits. Brain Res 1611:8-17

Showing the most recent 10 out of 86 publications