Figure 5.

Effects on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. A, A-582941 increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in an MLA-sensitive manner after incubation in PC12 cells. B, The EC₅₀ value of A-582941 to increase ERK phosphorylation is 95 nm (95% c.i., 81–111 nm; n = 3). Compared with α7 nAChR responses measured electrophysiologically in oocytes, these EC₅₀ values are lower and apparent efficacy values are higher because of the inclusion of an α7-selective modulator in the ERK1/2 assay. C, A-582941 (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 μmol/kg) increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in mouse cingulate cortex (left) and hippocampus (right) at behaviorally efficacious doses (15–20 min after injection; *p < 0.05 vs vehicle-treated control; n = 6 per treatment). Scale bars, 150 μm.