α-Conotoxin MII blocks nicotine-stimulated dopamine release in rat striatal synaptosomes

Activation of presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) can induce the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine in the CNS. Accumulating evidence suggests that distinct nAChR subtypes are involved; however, it has been difficult to determine the subunit composition of these receptors, in part because of the lack of a sufficient variety of selective nAChR ligands. We present experimental data that at least two different nAChR complexes are involved in dopamine release, one of which has an α3/β2 subunit interface.