Growth Related Role for the Nicotinic α-Bungarotoxin Receptor

Abstract

SummaryAccumulating evidence now suggests that neurotransmitters are not only involved in synaptic transmission but may also exert a trophic or developmental function in the nervous system. This includes acetylcholine which may mediate such a role through an interaction with nicotinic receptors. In neuronal tissue, a nicotinic receptor population which has been implicated in the modulation of neurite outgrowth is the nicotinic α-bungarotoxin receptor. Interestingly, earlier work had shown that activation of nicotinic α-bungarotoxin sites on muscle cells led to muscle cell degeneration. Furthermore, α-bungarotoxin sites present on non-neuronal cells also appear to be involved in a trophic role as exposure of these cells to nicotine elicits an increase in cell number which is blocked by α-bungarotoxin. These combined studies suggest a common role of the α-bungarotoxin receptor in growth related activities.