Abstract Psychostimulants such as amphetamine (AMPH) target dopamine (DA) neuron synapses to engender drug-induced plasticity. While DA neurons modulate the activity of striatal (Str) cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) with regional heterogeneity, how AMPH affects ChI has not been elucidated. Here, we applied quantitative fluorescence imaging approaches map dose-dependent effects a single dose on ...

AIM To examine the role of cholinergic neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) in noxious heat stimulation and in the effects of morphine-induced antinociception by rats. METHODS After the cholinergic neuron selective toxin, AF64A, was microinjected into the NRM, we examined changes in the antinociceptive threshold and effects of morphine (5 mg/kg, ip) using the hot-plate (HP) and tail-flic...

Background Cholinergic innervation is particularly vulnerable in many neurodegenerative diseases associated with cognitive dysfunction, and loss of cholinergic neurons Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenic event observed from early stage correlated impairment. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a major role the maintenance function neurons, decrease trophic signalling by NGF-Tropomyosin receptor kin...

Cell fate can be reprogrammed by modifying intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Here we show that two small molecules (forskolin and dorsomorphin) enable the transcription factor Neurogenin 2 (NGN2) to convert human fetal lung fibroblasts into cholinergic neurons with high purity (>90%) and efficiency (up to 99% of NGN2-expressing cells). The conversion is direct without passing through a proliferativ...

We performed whole-cell recordings from basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons in transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the choline acetyltransferase promoter. BF cholinergic neurons can be differentiated into two electrophysiologically identifiable subtypes: early and late firing neurons. Early firing neurons (∼70%) are more excitable, show...

The behavioral expression of fear ranges from active, cognitive responses to passive, freezing-like reactions. In this issue of Neuron, Gozzi, Jain, and colleagues suggest that neurons in the central amygdala orchestrate output signals toward either the brainstem or cholinergic basal forebrain and thereby can shift fear reactions from passive to active.

Surg Neurol Int. 2011 Feb 14;2:16. From the bench to the bedside: Medulloblastoma subtypes, cholinergic neuron function in the nucleus accumbens, and mechanisms of chronic neuropathic pain. Hauptman JS. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Center and Department of Neurosurgery, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA. PMID: 21427785 [PubMed in process] PMCID: PMC3050033 F...

Transient loss of consciousness associated with focal temporal lobe seizures is a complex phenomenon with life-threatening repercussions. In this issue of Neuron, Motelow et al. (2015) describe decreased cholinergic drive and suppressed subcortical arousal in seizures as a novel mechanism for impaired cortical function.