前额皮层肾上腺素能受体在工作记忆中的作用

前额皮层去甲肾上腺素能神经支配主要来自脑干蓝斑核。前额皮层存在不同类型的肾上腺素能受体。其中突触后α2及β2肾上腺素能受体的激活提高工作记忆；α1及β1肾上腺素能受体的激活损害工作记忆。不同受体是通过激活不同的信号通路发挥对工作记忆的调节作用。来自人类被试的研究结果与对动物的研究结果之间尚存在不一致。了解前额皮层不同肾上腺素受体的作用为开发治疗与前额皮层功能失调相关疾病的药物提供了新的方向。

Roles of Adrenergic Receptors of Prefrontal Cortex in Working Memory

Norepinephrinegic innervations in the prefrontal cortex mainly come from locus coeruleus at the brain stem. There are various types of adrenoceptors in the prefrontal cortex. The activations of post-synaptic α2 and β2 adrenoceptors improve the working memory, whereas the activation of α1 and β1 receptors impairs the performance of tasks that require working memory. The modulation of different types of adrenoceptors on the working memory is achieved by activating different signaling pathways. Some results coming from human subjects are not consistent with those from animals. A good understanding of the effects of various types of adrenoceptors on working memory will be a new direction in developing medicines for the treatment of dysfunction of prefrontal cortex.