Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus
The cholinergic system has been implicated in the development of autism on the basis of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) losses in cerebral and cerebellar cortex. In the present study, the first to explore nAChRs in the thalamus in autism, α4, α7 and β2 nAChR subunit expression in t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2005-08-01
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| Series: | Neurobiology of Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996105000288 |
| _version_ | 1819161102382006272 |
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| author | M.A. Ray A.J. Graham M. Lee R.H. Perry J.A. Court E.K. Perry |
| author_facet | M.A. Ray A.J. Graham M. Lee R.H. Perry J.A. Court E.K. Perry |
| author_sort | M.A. Ray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cholinergic system has been implicated in the development of autism on the basis of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) losses in cerebral and cerebellar cortex. In the present study, the first to explore nAChRs in the thalamus in autism, α4, α7 and β2 nAChR subunit expression in thalamic nuclei of adult individuals with autism (n = 3) and age-matched control cases (n = 3) was investigated using immunochemical methods. Loss of α7- and β2- (but not α4-) immunoreactive neurons occurred in the paraventricular nucleus (PV) and nucleus reuniens in autism. Preliminary results indicated glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity occurred at a low level in PV, co-expressed with α7 in normal and autistic cases and was not reduced in autism. This suggested loss of neuronal α7 in autism is not caused by loss of GABAergic neurons. These findings indicate nicotinic abnormalities that occur in the thalamus in autism which may contribute to sensory or attentional deficits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:07:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-594eeb2c583d4a569e41cd7e24e451be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1095-953X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:07:00Z |
| publishDate | 2005-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neurobiology of Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-594eeb2c583d4a569e41cd7e24e451be2022-12-21T18:19:10ZengElsevierNeurobiology of Disease1095-953X2005-08-01193366377Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamusM.A. Ray0A.J. Graham1M. Lee2R.H. Perry3J.A. Court4E.K. Perry5Institute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, MRC Building, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK; Corresponding author. Fax: +44 0 191 444 4402.Institute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, MRC Building, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UKInstitute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, MRC Building, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UKDepartment of Neuropathology, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UKInstitute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, MRC Building, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UKInstitute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, MRC Building, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UKThe cholinergic system has been implicated in the development of autism on the basis of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) losses in cerebral and cerebellar cortex. In the present study, the first to explore nAChRs in the thalamus in autism, α4, α7 and β2 nAChR subunit expression in thalamic nuclei of adult individuals with autism (n = 3) and age-matched control cases (n = 3) was investigated using immunochemical methods. Loss of α7- and β2- (but not α4-) immunoreactive neurons occurred in the paraventricular nucleus (PV) and nucleus reuniens in autism. Preliminary results indicated glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity occurred at a low level in PV, co-expressed with α7 in normal and autistic cases and was not reduced in autism. This suggested loss of neuronal α7 in autism is not caused by loss of GABAergic neurons. These findings indicate nicotinic abnormalities that occur in the thalamus in autism which may contribute to sensory or attentional deficits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996105000288AutismNeuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptorThalamusParaventricular nucleusNucleus reuniensGlutamic acid decarboxylase |
| spellingShingle | M.A. Ray A.J. Graham M. Lee R.H. Perry J.A. Court E.K. Perry Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus Neurobiology of Disease Autism Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Thalamus Paraventricular nucleus Nucleus reuniens Glutamic acid decarboxylase |
| title | Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| title_full | Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| title_fullStr | Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| title_short | Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism: an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| title_sort | neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in autism an immunohistochemical investigation in the thalamus |
| topic | Autism Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Thalamus Paraventricular nucleus Nucleus reuniens Glutamic acid decarboxylase |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996105000288 |
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