Nicotinic Receptors in the Development and Modulation of CNS Synapses

The molecular dissection of muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) with gene cloning techniques set the stage for similar analyses of ligand-gated ion channels in brain. This review concentrates on less traditional notions of how neuronal nAChRs may contribute to CNS physiology. Although we outline progress relating nAChR structure and subunit composition to function, our discussion focuses on the contribution of neuronal nAChRs to the development and presynaptic modulation of CNS synapses in contrast with their role as postsynaptic mediators of nicotinic transmission.