I would love some elaboration on the function of alpha3beta4 receptors... It seems MDMA/METH can upregulate nicotinic receptors (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20132834 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17614110) and I wonder if this can partially account for increased dopamine seen in abstinent MDMA users via an interaction involving the habenula and interpeduncular nucleus (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2424555).
I would assume that the nicotinic receptor upregulation is somewhat persistent if this study is true
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24239118 - "During chronic nicotine exposure, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing the β4 subunit were upregulated in somatostatin interneurons clustered in the dorsal region of the IPN." Unless that upregulation is not a direct consequence of nicotine binding to b4 containing receptors, and it is rather dopamine etc. somewhere else that leads to the upregulation of the b4 containing receptors. Which, if it is dopamine that leads to upregulation of those receptors, and abstinent MDMA users have increased dopamine, I suppose that alone could cause persistent a3b4 upregulation?
It would be really cool to see a normalization of dopamine in abstinent MDMA users utilizing a3b4 antagonists...
Also guys just thought I would point out some of these a-conotoxins appear really promising as far as a selective a3b4 antagonist goes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4358631/
