Differential regulation of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors and their mRNAs in cultured sympathetic neurons

K. E. Smith, V. Wong, N. E. Kremer, R. H. Loring, J. A. Kessler*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mechanisms regulating expression of neuronal muscarinic and nicotinic receptors were examined in cultures of neonatal rat sympathetic neurons. Two factors known to stimulate cholinergic transmitter development in sympathetic neurons were examined for their effects on cholinergic receptor expression. A membrane associated factor (MANS46) and a diffusible factor produced by cultured rat fibroblasts (RFCM) each decreased muscarinic receptor number. By contrast, neither treatment altered levels of nicotinic receptors. Levels of muscarinic (m2) receptor mRNA were decreased by MANS but not by RFCM, indicating that effects of the two treatments were mediated by different mechanisms. Neither MANS nor RFCM altered levels of nicotinic α3 or β2 mRNAs, consistent with the lack of change in numbers of nicotinic receptors. These observations indicate that receptor phenotype in developing neurons is subject to regulation by multiple epigenetic factors. Further, the same signals which regulate transmitter development may also regulate receptor expression in sympathetic neurons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-129
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular Brain Research
Volume12
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1992

Keywords

  • Development
  • Muscarinic
  • Neurotrophic factor
  • Nicotinic
  • Receptor mRNA
  • Receptor regulation
  • Sympathetic neuron

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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