Abstract
Transcripts for $\alpha$9 and $\alpha$10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits are found in diverse tissues. The function of $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs is best known in mechanosensory cochlear hair cells, but elsewhere their roles are less well-understood. $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs have been implicated as analgesic targets and $\alpha$-conotoxins that block $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs produce analgesia. However, some of these peptides show large potency differences between species. Additionally several studies have indicated that these conotoxins may also activate GABA$_B$ receptors (GABA$_B$Rs). To further address these issues, we cloned the cDNAs of mouse $\alpha$9 and $\alpha$10 nAChR subunits. When heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the resulting $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs had the expected pharmacology of being activated by acetylcholine and choline but not by nicotine. A conotoxin analog, RgIA4, potently, and selectively blocked mouse $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs with low nanomolar affinity indicating that RgIA4 may be effectively used to study murine $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChR function. Previous reports indicated that RgIA4 attenuates chemotherapy-induced cold allodynia. Here we demonstrate that RgIA4 analgesic effects following oxaliplatin treatment are sustained for 21 days after last RgIA4 administration indicating that RgIA4 may provide enduring protection against nerve damage. RgIA4 lacks activity at GABA$_B$ receptors; a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assay was used to demonstrate that two other analgesic $\alpha$-conotoxins, Vc1.1 and AuIB, also do not activate GABA$_B$Rs expressed in HEK cells. Together these findings further support the targeting of $\alpha$9$\alpha$10 nAChRs in the treatment of pain.