US5

[US5-02] The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in regulation of neural circuit function in the insular cortex

〇Hiroki Toyoda¹ (1. Dept Oral Physiol, Osaka Univ Grad Sch Dent)

Keywords:島皮質、シナプス可塑性、ニコチン性受容体

Nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) play key roles in neuonal circuit development, drug addiction and cognitive functions and behaviors including attention, learning, memory and motivation. The insular cortex is an important brain region associated with sensory perception, self-awareness, cognitive function, motor control, and drug addiction. The activation of nAChRs in the insular cortex modulates its microcircuits to perform various functions. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the cholinergic modulation of microcircuits in the insular cortex. We examined which type of neurons express functional nAChRs in layer III, V, and VI of the mouse insular cortex and how activation of nAChRs modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity in the layer III, V, and VI pyramidal cells. We found that activation of nAChRs layer-specifically modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity in the mouse insular cortex. These findings are critical to understand the modulating effects of ACh or nicotine on physiological and pathophysiological functions associated with the insular cortex.