Agonist pharmacology of the neuronal alpha 7 nicotinic receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The potencies and efficacies of seven agonists at chick alpha 7 nicotinic receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes were determined by whole cell recording. (+)-Anatoxin-a was the most potent agonist (EC50 = 0.58 microM) and acetylcholine was the least potent (EC50 = 320 microM). The rank order of agonist potencies was: (+)-anatoxin-a >> cytisine > (-)-nicotine > (+)-nicotine > DMPP > 1-acetyl-4-methylpiperazine methiodide > acetylcholine. DMPP evoked only very small currents: comparison of maximally effective agonist concentrations showed that DMPP was only one-fifth as efficacious as other agonists. Previously published IC50 values for rat brain [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin sites show a similar agonist profile, and the identity of homo-oligomeric alpha 7 receptors with native alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive neuronal nicotinic receptors is discussed.