Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 15
Identification of a7 Nicotinic
Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists
for their Assessment in
Improving Cognition in
Schizophrenia
BRUCE N. ROGERS*, E. JON JACOBSEN, CHRISTOPHER
J. O'DONNELL, CHRISTOPHER L. SHAFFER, DANIEL P.
WALKER AND DONN G. WISHKA
Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton Laboratories,
Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA
15.1 Introduction
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a well-defined subset of pen-
tameric ligand-gated ion channels.
1,2
Neuronal nAChRs are found throughout
the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as in neuromuscular junc-
tions,
3
and assemble into homo-pentamers (such as a7) or, more commonly, are
formed by combinations of a and b subunits into hetero-pentamers (such as
a4b2).
4
To date, 17 distinct nAChR isoforms presenting a vast diversity of
possible combinations have been discovered, but only a small subset of these
has been shown to give rise to functionally and physiologically relevant
Search WWH ::
Custom Search