CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL ANATOMY OF NICOTINIC SITES

This review begins with a brief description of nicotinic receptor stru cture, followed by the currently known anatomical distribution of nico tinic receptors both in the peripheral (neuromuscular junction and aut onomic nervous system) and central nervous systems (brain and spinal c ord), identifying methodologies and nomenclature used to distinguish t he various nicotinic receptor populations. The function of nicotinic r eceptors in relation to cholinergic, catecholamine, opioid, serotonin, and excitatory/inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter systems is also discussed.