Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are thought to be involved in regulation of several processes during neurogenesis of the brain. In this study the expression of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype was investigated in human fetal (9–11 weeks of gestation), middle-aged (28–51 years) and aged (68–94 years) medulla oblongata, pons, frontal cortex, and cerebellum. The specific binding of the α7 receptor antagonist [125I]α-bungarotoxin was significantly higher in fetal than in both middle-aged and aged medulla oblongata and aged pons. No significant decrease in [125I]α-bungarotoxin binding sites was observed from fetal to adult cortex and cerebellum. The α7 mRNA expression was significantly higher in all fetal brain regions investigated, except for aged cortex, than in corresponding middle-aged and aged tissue. The high expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in fetal compared to adult brain supports the view that these receptors play an important role during brain development.
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