摘要AIM: To investigate the effect of nicotine on 1β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) in the hippocampal slice of rat. METHODS: Hippocampal slices (400 μm thick) were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) previously saturated with 95 % O2 and 5 % CO2 at 28 ℃ for 120 min, and then incubated with nicotine 10 μmol/L for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. mRNA of the β1-adrenergic receptor was examined with semiquantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein level was measured by Western blot and RIA. RESULTS: The mRNA gene expression and the protein level of β1-adrenergic receptor in hippocampal slices were increased after nicotine treatment. The peak of protein occurred later but higher than that of mRNA level. CONCLUSION:Both expression of β1- adrenergic receptor gene transcription and post-transcriptional protein level in rat hippocam pus were altered by nicotine.