Nicotinic agonists cause spikes in the nerve terminal calcium concentration

This is a sample video of some of our experiments showing the effects of nicotine, and drugs like nicotine, on autonomic nerves. This a short movie sequence showing how the sympathetic nerves in the mouse vas deferens, filled with a calcium indicator, can be seen under a confocal microscope, and what nicotine does to the them. Flashy.

I've uploaded it primarily for the "Boron" zone of "I'm a Scientist Get me Out of Here" (June, 2010), but if you're of a scientific bent and want some publications to follow up, try:

Williams, D.J., Brain, K.L. and Cunnane, T.C. (2007) "The effect of epibatidine on spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release in the mouse and guinea pig isolated vas deferens," British Journal of Pharmacology 150:906-912

Brain, K.L., Trout, S.J., Jackson, V.M., Dass, N. and Cunnane, T.C. (2001) "Nicotine induces calcium spikes in single nerve terminal varicosities: a role for intracellular calcium stores," Neuroscience 106:395-403.

There will also be a 2010 installment, if the ever-wonderful BJP editors are in good mood!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• calicum
• nicotine
• sympathetic
• nerves
• confocal