Torrao_2000_Brain.Res_863_249

Lesion, immunohistochemical, and immunoblotting methods were used to evaluate the effects of cholinergic deafferentation upon the expression of the alpha2 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the lateral spiriform nucleus (SpL) of the chick brain. The expression of the alpha2 subunit in the SpL showed biphasic changes after lesion of its cholinergic source (nucleus semilunaris), with an increase after 2 days postlesion and a decrease after 3-7 days. Our results could represent a correlate of the phenomena of nicotinic receptor up- and down-regulation, induced by removal of the cholinergic input.