Effect of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and antagonists on motor function in mice

Welch, Kevin D.; Pfister, James A.; Lima, Flávia Gontijo de; Green, Benedict T.; Gardner, Dale R.

doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.11.024

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Reduced latency to grip loss is indicative of compromised muscle strength and ability to grasp and hold onto objects, 28,14 while reduced scores on limb impairment indicate compromised limb function and strength. 23 The present study showed no alteration in grip strength and limb impairment, at the time point accessed following nicotine administration in both male and female rats compared to their respective controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Ijomone¹,

Olaibi²,

Biose³

et al. 2014

ANS

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BackgroundNicotine has shown potential therapeutic value for neurodegenerative diseases though there are concerns that it may induce behavioural deficits.PurposeThe present study sought to determine the effect of chronic nicotine administration on overall motor functions and coordination.MethodsForty adult female and male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into 4 groups. Treated groups were administered nicotine via subcutaneous injections at doses of 0.25, 2 and 4 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. Control groups received normal saline. All animals were monitored for the first few minutes after each injection for any observed immediate effect of drug administration. Motor associated behavioural tests performed include: open field test, string test for grip strength and limb impairment, movement initiation and step test.ResultsNicotine induced muscular convulsions within the first 1-5 minutes following daily subcutaneous injections, throughout the period of administration. This was observed to be more severe in females. Nicotine did not produce major alterations in overall motor functions and coordination in both females and males.ConclusionThe present study shows chronic nicotine treatment produces muscular convulsion but no major deficit in overall motor function and coordination and that any observed alterations may just be transient effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…30 In another study which evaluated the effect of nicotine on motor function and coordination in mice, nicotine administered at sub-lethal dose produced significant loss in motor function and coordination few minutes after administration but full normal motor function and coordination was recovered by 30 min post-dosing. 28 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Ijomone¹,

Olaibi²,

Biose³

et al. 2014

ANS

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“…To assess the motor control of northern quolls, we quantified each individual's ability to traverse cylindrical beams of differing widths, a test based on standardized balance beam tests used to measure motor control in rodents (Kashiwabuchi et al 1995;Song et al 2006;Allbutt & Henderson 2007;Lukong & Richard 2008;Forbes et al 2013;Welch et al 2013;Doeppner et al 2014;Perez-Polo et al 2015). Individual quolls traversed a beam (wooden dowels 2Á4 m long) (>14 body lengths) that was suspended 10 cm above a Perspex base and raised at an angle of 45°( Fig.…”

Section: R a I S E D B A L A N C E B E A Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal running speeds when there is a trade‐off between speed and the probability of mistakes

et al. 2017

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Summary Do prey run as fast as they can to avoid capture? This is a common assumption in studies of animal performance, yet a recent mathematical model (Wheatley et al. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 55, 1166–1175; ) of escape behaviour predicts that animals should instead use speeds below their maximum capabilities even when running from predators. Fast speeds may compromise motor control and accuracy of limb placement, particularly as the animal runs along narrow structures like beams or branches. Mistakes decrease speed and increase the probability of capture. We tested several key assumptions and predictions of Wheatley et al.'s () model using wild‐caught northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus), a squirrel‐sized marsupial carnivore. We quantified the speeds of quolls as they traversed beams of differing width and expected animals should balance the benefits of higher speeds against the increased probability of mistakes when selecting speeds. We first explored whether the probability of mistakes when running along a beam increased at faster running speeds (speed‐accuracy trade‐off) and when the difficulty of a task was greater (narrower beam). In addition, we quantified the costs of locomotor mistakes to test the assumption that mistakes decreased overall running speed. Finally, we tested whether individual northern quolls modulated their running speeds when moving on narrow beams, which would decrease the probability of making catastrophic mistakes. We found quolls were more likely to make mistakes when running faster and on the narrower beam. Locomotor mistakes increased the total time needed to traverse the entire beam, and each mistake decreased average escape speed by around 50%, representing a substantial cost for slips or trips. To circumvent the costs of these mistakes, quolls voluntarily reduced speeds in situations when they are more likely to make a mistake (i.e. narrower beams), thereby allowing them to decrease the total time it took to traverse the beam. Our data provide support for the assumptions and predictions of Wheatley et al.'s () model of optimal escape speeds, and suggest that animals optimize rather than simply maximize speeds when running along challenging substrates. Our work provides a foundation for understanding the movement behaviour of animals when their objective is to escape predatory attacks, and demonstrates that animals should select their escape strategy based on how both the speed of movement and motor control affect task success. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12902/suppinfo is available for this article.

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“…However, there is still a possibility that the α 7 nAChR subunit may play a role in more subtle aspects of MLA toxicosis, including effects on motor function and coordination. In a recent study, we characterized the motor coordination deficiencies that occur upon exposure to a non‐lethal dose of nAChR antagonists and agonists using a balance beam, grip strength meter, rotarod, open field analysis and tremor monitor (Welch et al ., ). The objective of this study was to determine if the α 7 nAChR subunit plays a role in the motor coordination deficiencies elicited by nAChR agonists and antagonists by comparing the motor function and coordination of wild‐type mice to mice lacking the α 7 nAChR subunit after exposure to a non‐lethal dose of MLA and anabasine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The role of the α₇ subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on motor coordination in mice treated with methyllycaconitine and anabasine

Welch

Pfister

Gardner

et al. 2013

J of Applied Toxicology

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The adverse effects of methyllycaconitine (MLA) have been attributed to competitive antagonism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Research has indicated a correlation between the LD50 of MLA and the amount of α7 nAChR in various mouse strains, suggesting that mice with more α7 nAChR require more MLA to be poisoned. However, recent research demonstrated that there was no difference in the acute lethality (LD50 ) to MLA in mice lacking the α7 nAChR subunit compared with wild-type mice. The objective of this study was to determine if the α7 nAChR subunit plays a role in motor coordination deficiencies that result from exposure to nAChR antagonists and agonists. We compared the motor function and coordination in wild-type mice to mice lacking the α7 subunit of the nAChR, after treating them with a non-lethal dose of MLA or anabasine, using the following tests: balance beam, grip strength, rotarod, open field and tremor monitor. Analysis of the data indicated that overall there was no difference between the wild-type and knockout mice (P = 0.39 for grip strength; P = 0.21 for rotarod; P = 0.41 for balance beam; P = 0.22 for open field; and P = 0.62 for tremors). Thus results from this study suggest that α7 nAChR does not play an integral role in the acute effects of MLA or anabasine on motor function/coordination. Consequently other subunits of nAChRs found in the neuromuscular junction are likely the primary target for MLA and anabasine resulting in motor coordination deficiencies and acute toxicosis.

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Effect of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and antagonists on motor function in mice

Cited by 24 publications

References 42 publications

Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Optimal running speeds when there is a trade‐off between speed and the probability of mistakes

The role of the α₇ subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on motor coordination in mice treated with methyllycaconitine and anabasine

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Effect of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and antagonists on motor function in mice

Cited by 24 publications

References 42 publications

Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Performance of motor associated behavioural tests following chronic nicotine administration

Optimal running speeds when there is a trade‐off between speed and the probability of mistakes

The role of the α7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on motor coordination in mice treated with methyllycaconitine and anabasine

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The role of the α₇ subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on motor coordination in mice treated with methyllycaconitine and anabasine