Journal of neurochemistry
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Journal of neurochemistry · Dec 2000
Competitive potentiation of acetylcholine effects on neuronal nicotinic receptors by acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting drugs.
The effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors physostigmine and tacrine on alpha4beta2 and alpha4beta4 subtypes of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, have been investigated. In voltage-clamp experiments low concentrations of physostigmine and tacrine potentiate ion currents induced by low concentrations of ACh, whereas at high concentrations they inhibit ACh-induced ion currents. These dual effects result in bell-shaped concentration-effect curves. ⋯ Radioligand binding experiments demonstrating displacement of the nicotinic receptor agonist (125)I-epibatidine from its recognition sites on alpha4beta4 ACh receptors by physostigmine confirm that physostigmine is a competitive ligand at these receptors. A two-site equilibrium receptor occupation model, combined with noncompetitive ion channel block, accounts for the dual effects of physostigmine and tacrine on ACh-induced ion currents. It is concluded that these acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting drugs interact with the ACh recognition sites and are coagonists of ACh on alpha4-containing nicotinic ACh receptors.