Figure 2. Calcium influx through L-type VGCCs and MAPK/ERK are required for the expression of excitatory nAChRs.

(a) Single LPeD1 neurons were cultured in CM and impaled with intracellular electrodes. Exogenous application of ACh (10⁻⁶ M) triggered an excitatory response in the postsynaptic neuron, LPeD1 (n = 30). (ai) Exogenous application of ACh to LPeD1 somata induced an inhibitory response in the presence the L-type VGCC blocker nifedipine (n = 9) (10 µM). (aii) The expression of excitatory nAChRs was also prevented by the MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126 (40 µM) n = 9. (b) Summary of the percentage of cells that functionally exhibited excitatory nAChRs with a significance of P<0.05, as determined using Pearson's Chi-squared test.