Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Neuron. 2011 Apr 14;70(1):20-33. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.03.014.
Cholinergic neurons and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain participate in diverse functions: reward, learning and memory, mood, sensory processing, pain, and neuroprotection. Nicotinic systems also have well-known roles in drug abuse. Here, we review recent insights into nicotinic function, linking exogenous and endogenous manipulations of nAChRs to alterations in synapses, circuits, and behavior. We also discuss how these contemporary advances can motivate attempts to exploit nicotinic systems therapeutically in Parkinson's disease, cognitive decline, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.
大脑中的胆碱能神经元和烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体 (nAChRs) 参与多种功能：奖励、学习和记忆、情绪、感觉处理、疼痛和神经保护。尼古丁系统在药物滥用中也有众所周知的作用。在这里，我们回顾了尼古丁功能的最新见解，将 nAChR 的外源性和内源性操作与突触、回路和行为的改变联系起来。我们还讨论了这些当代进展如何激发人们尝试在帕金森病、认知能力下降、癫痫和精神分裂症中利用尼古丁系统进行治疗。
