The polyamines spermine and spermidine are found ubiquitously in all mammalian cells where they play a role in a variety of cellular processes. In recent years, the interaction of polyamines with a number of structurally and functionally distinct cation channels has been described. These studies have shown that intracellular polyamines cause a voltage-dependent block of currents from inwardly rectifying K+ channels, AMPA and kainate type glutamate receptors, and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. As result of the voltage-dependent polyamine block, these channels conduct current at negative membrane potentials but do not conduct current at positive membrane potentials. This property is termed inward rectification and likely plays an important role in the function of these channels. / The focus of my thesis has been to study the polyamine mediated inward rectification of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). / To determine whether spermine causes the rectification of nAChRs in native neurons, I used the Gyro mouse model that lacks spermine due to a deletion in the gene coding for spermine synthase, the enzyme that catalyzes the production of spermine. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.32988 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Davachi, David Hadi. |
| Contributors | Cooper, E. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physiology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001838269, proquestno: MQ75301, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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