Nicotinic receptors mediate changes in spinal motoneuron development and axonal pathfinding in embryonic zebrafish exposed to nicotine.

TitleNicotinic receptors mediate changes in spinal motoneuron development and axonal pathfinding in embryonic zebrafish exposed to nicotine.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsSvoboda, KR, Vijayaraghavan, S, Tanguay, RL
JournalJ Neurosci
Volume22
Issue24
Pagination10731-41
Date Published2002 Dec 15
ISSN1529-2401
KeywordsAnimals, Axons, Behavior, Animal, Biomarkers, Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Kinetics, Luminescent Proteins, Motor Neurons, Nervous System, Nicotine, Receptors, Nicotinic, Spinal Cord, Swimming, Transgenes, Zebrafish
Abstract

We show that transient exposure of embryonic zebrafish to nicotine delays the development of secondary spinal motoneurons. Furthermore, there is a long-lasting alteration in axonal pathfinding in secondary motoneurons that is not ameliorated by drug withdrawal. These effects of nicotine were reversed by mammalian nicotinic receptor antagonists. Coupled with these changes is a long-term alteration in swimming behavior. Our results show that transient embryonic exposure to nicotine leads to long-lasting effects on the vertebrate nervous system. These results also demonstrate that the zebrafish is a useful model to examine the effects of nicotine specifically, and drugs of abuse in general, on the development of the CNS in vertebrates.

Alternate JournalJ. Neurosci.
PubMed ID12486166
Grant ListR21 AA012783 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
NS38937 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
DA10266 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
F32-MH12748 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
AA12783 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States