Involvement of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in working memory impairment induced by repeated electroconvulsive seizures in rats

SummaryA role of cholinergic nervous system in the behavioral impairments induced by repeated ECS is not understood. The α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist ABT-418, but not the α7 nAChR agonist, significantly ameliorated the impairment of spontaneous alternation behavior in the Y-maze test. And, repeated ECS caused a reduction of α4 nAChR-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Thus, the α4β2 nAChR is related to ECS-induced deficits in rats.