a(MESH:methyllycaconitine) increases bp(MESH:Neuroprotection)
Curiously, although most studies are in agreement that nAChRs need to be activated to mediate their protective effects, mouse cortical neurons are protected by the alpha7 antagonist methyllycaconitine (Martin et al., 2004), raising the possibility that neuroprotection by alpha7 agonists may be through desensitization rather than activation of this rapidly desensitizing receptor. This would be consistent with the alpha7- dependent activation of intracellular signaling pathways by Abeta (Bell et al., 2004), but the opposite effects on cell survival exerted by Abeta and nicotine means that other mechanisms must be sought, such as ligand-specific coupling to downstream signaling pathways.
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