Aim: To study the modulatory effects of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover on nicotinic receptors in CNS, and to study the relationship between brain nicotinic receptors and PI turnover.
Methods: Effects of inositol phosphatase inhibitor lithium chloride (LiCl) and muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine (Oxo) on nicotine-induced convulsions were investigated in mice.
Results: The effects of nicotine for producing convulsions were modified by LiCl 2.5-10 mmol.kg-1, revealing the convulsive effects of nicotine > 0.8 mg.kg-1 were increased by acute pretreatment with LiCl rather than oxotremorine. Mice were given LiCl 5.0 mmol.kg-1 once a day for 7 d, the ED50 value of nicotine for producing convulsions was increased from 0.58 to 0.97 mg.kg-1, suggesting that the sensitivity of central nicotinic receptors for mediating convulsions was decreased by chronic treatment with LiCl.
Conclusion: The functions of central nicotinic receptors were modulated by PI turnover.