Alpha-7 nicotinic receptor

Molecular model of the α7 nicotinic receptor

The alpha-7 nicotinic receptor, also known as the α7 receptor, is a type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor implicated in long-term memory, consisting entirely of α7 subunits.[1] As with other nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, functional α7 receptors are pentameric [i.e., (α7)5 stoichiometry].

It is located in the brain, spleen, and lymphocytes of lymph nodes where activation yields post- and presynaptic excitation,[1] mainly by increased Ca2+ permeability.

Further, recent work has implicated this receptor as being important for generation of adult mammal neurons in the retina.[2] Functional α7 receptors are present in the submucous plexus neurons of the guinea-pig ileum.[3]

  1. ^ a b Pharmacology, (Rang, Dale, Ritter & Moore, ISBN 0-443-07145-4, 5th ed., Churchill Livingstone 2003) p. 138.
  2. ^ Webster MK, Cooley-Themm CA, Barnett JD, Bach HB, Vainner JM, Webster SE, Linn CL (March 2017). "Evidence of BrdU-positive retinal neurons after application of an Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist". Neuroscience. 346: 437–446. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.01.029. PMC 5341387. PMID 28147247.
  3. ^ Glushakov AV, Voytenko LP, Skok MV, Skok V (January 2004). "Distribution of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing different alpha-subunits in the submucosal plexus of the guinea-pig". Autonomic Neuroscience. 110 (1): 19–26. doi:10.1016/j.autneu.2003.08.012. PMID 14766321. S2CID 25872540.