BACKGROUND Dentinal hypersensitivity is a very common complaint of patients undergoing crown and bridge restorations on vital teeth. Of the many desensitizing agents used to counter this issue, desensitizing laser treatment is emerging as one of the most successful treatment modality. However, the dentinal changes brought about by the desensitizing laser application could affect the bond streng...

Ionotropic, nicotinic receptors have previously been shown to mediate both inhibitory (Cl-dependent) and excitatory (cationic) cholinergic responses in Aplysia neurons. We have used fast perfusion methods of agonist and antagonist application to reevaluate the effects on these receptors of a wide variety of cholinergic compounds, including a number of recently isolated and/or synthesized alpha ...

of receptor desensitization. Mutations that strengthen this interaction are more resistant to desensitization, whereas disruption of dimerization promotes desensitization. Dimer interaction takes place between domain 1 of the ligand-binding core in each subunit. When these interactions are strong, These studies also explain the mode of action of a drug that promotes AMPA activation, cyclothiazi...

Fipronil sulfone, a major metabolite of fipronil in both insects and mammals, binds strongly to GABA receptors and is thought to play a significant role in poisoning by fipronil. To better understand the mechanism of selective insecticidal action of fipronil, we examined the effects of its sulfone metabolite on GABA- and glutamate-activated chloride channels (GluCls) in cockroach thoracic gangl...