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Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Regulation In Experimental Neurodegenerative Disease, Christina Margaret Charriez
Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Regulation In Experimental Neurodegenerative Disease, Christina Margaret Charriez
University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is involved in learning and memory, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection, inflammation, and presynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by diminished cognitive abilities, memory loss, and neuropsychiatric disturbances, is associated with a loss of nAChRs. Similarly, traumatic brain injury (TBI) may result in long term neurobehavioral changes exemplified by cognitive dysfunction. Deficits in α7 nAChR expression have previously been shown in experimental TBI and may be related to cognitive impairment experienced in patients following TBI.
The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate changes in α7 nAChR expression in models …