Stimulation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors inhibits β-amyloid toxicity

We examined the effects of nicotinic receptor agonists against beta amyloid (A beta) cytotoxicity to rat cortical neurons. Administration of nicotine protected against A beta-induced neuronal death. This neuroprotection was blocked by dihydro-beta-erythroidine, an alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic receptor antagonist. Furthermore, incubation with cytisine, a selective alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic receptor agonist, inhibited A beta cytotoxicity. These results suggest that alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic receptor activation plays an important role in neuroprotection against A beta cytotoxicity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.