Annotation: Acetylcholine receptors are widely expressed throughout the nervous system, and they play important roles in the control of fundamental neural functions and behavior. This makes them an attractive therapeutic target. However, traditional pharmacology cannot distinguish among receptors expressed by different neuronal populations that often show antagonistic effects on local circuits and behavior. In our work, we investigate the expression and function of acetylcholine receptors in defined neuronal populations to understand how neuronal-type-specific targeting of these receptors can lead to more precise and predictable pharmacotherapeutic strategies. In addition, we combine pharmacological and genetic approaches, which allows us to modulate acetylcholine signaling selectively and flexibly in specific neuronal types of wild-type organisms.

IPHYS contact person: Helena Janíčková, M.D. M.A., Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of cholinergic signalling; helena.janickova@fgu.cas.cz