Levin E D, Rezvani A H
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar 30;393(1-3):141-6. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(99)00885-7.
Nicotine, as well as other nicotinic drugs, may provide useful therapeutic treatment for a variety of cognitive impairments including those found in Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We have found that nicotine skin patches significantly improve attentional performance in people with these disease states as well as normal nonsmoking adults. Animal models are critical for determining the neurobehavioral bases for nicotinic effects on cognitive function. We have found in lesion and local infusion studies with rats that the hippocampus is an important substrate for nicotinic effects on working memory function. Both alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus are involved. Further work has investigated the relationship of nicotinic systems with dopaminergic and glutaminergic systems in the basis of cognitive function. Nicotine has proven to be a useful prototypic compound for the family of nicotinic compounds. It produces cognitive improvements in both animal models and clinical populations. Recent work with more selective nicotinic receptor agonists and antagonists in animal models is providing important information concerning the neural mechanisms for nicotinic involvement in cognitive function and opening avenues for development of safe and effective nicotinic treatments for clinical use.
尼古丁以及其他烟碱类药物，可能为包括阿尔茨海默病、精神分裂症和注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）在内的多种认知障碍提供有效的治疗方法。我们发现，尼古丁贴片能显著改善患有这些疾病的人群以及正常不吸烟成年人的注意力表现。动物模型对于确定烟碱对认知功能影响的神经行为基础至关重要。我们在对大鼠的损伤和局部注射研究中发现，海马体是烟碱对工作记忆功能产生影响的重要基础。海马体中的α7和α4β2烟碱受体均参与其中。进一步的研究探讨了在认知功能基础上烟碱系统与多巴胺能系统和谷氨酸能系统的关系。尼古丁已被证明是烟碱类化合物家族中一种有用的原型化合物。它在动物模型和临床人群中都能改善认知。最近在动物模型中使用更具选择性的烟碱受体激动剂和拮抗剂的研究，正在提供有关烟碱参与认知功能的神经机制的重要信息，并为开发安全有效的临床用烟碱治疗方法开辟道路。
