Nicotine, Brain Nicotinic Receptors, and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) represent a large family of ligand-gated cation channels with diverse structures and properties. In contrast to the muscular nAChRs, the physiological functions of neuronal nAChRs are not well defined to date. Behavioral studies indicate that brain nAChRs participate in complex functions such as attention, memory, and cognition, whereas clinical data suggest their involvement in the pathogenesis of certain neuropsychiatric disorders (Alzheimerʹs and Parkinsonʹs diseases, Touretteʹs syndrome, schizophrenia, depression, etc.). For the majority of these disorders, the use of nAChRsʹ agonists may represent either a prophylactic (especially for Alzheimerʹs and Parkinsonʹs diseases) or a symptomatic treatment. The possible mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects as well as the characteristics and potential therapeutic use of new, subtype-selective nAChRs agonists are presented.