Do tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) and physostigmine restore acetylcholine release in Alzheimer brains via nicotinic receptors?

Abstract

In the presence of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA) 10(-4) M or physostigmine 10(-4) M, the in vitro 3H-Acetylcholine (3H-ACh) release from control cortical slices was significantly reduced. In contrast, THA 10(-4) M and physostigmine 10(-4) M significantly increased the release of 3H-ACh in AD/SDAT brain tissue. This facilitating effect on 3H-ACh release was partially blocked (50%) in the presence of the nicotinic antagonist d-tubocurarine 10(-6) M indicating a possible interaction via nicotinic receptors. The muscarinic antagonist atropine 10(-5) M significantly increased the 3H-ACh release both in control and AD/SDAT brains, thus indicating preservation of muscarinic autoreceptors in the AD/SDAT cortical tissue. In receptor competition studies with 3H-nicotine, 3H-ACh and 3H-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3H-QNB) as receptor ligands, THA interfered with both nicotinic and muscarinic receptor ligand binding, while physostigmine had much less effect.