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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2007 Mar 20.
Published in final edited form as: Auton Neurosci. 2006 Apr 17;128(1-2):53–63. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2006.02.023

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

Summary diagram. Possible involvement of acetylcholine (ACh)-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) signaling pathway in regulating the excitability of AVPNs. ACh released from passing fibers or from AVPNs could reach perisynaptic nAChRs (a7 homologous, α7β2, and/or α4β2 heterologous pentameric channels) causing activation of the cells, or it could activate α7 homomeric receptor expressed by axon terminals innervating AVPNs and facilitate glutamate release and further augment cholinergic outflow to the airways. Nicotine and nicotine-like substances use the same receptors to influence activity of AVPNs.