A neuromuscular transmission block produced by a cancer tissue extract derived from a patient with the myasthenic syndrome.
The myasthenic syndrome occasionally is associated with bronchogenic carcinoma. The neuromuscular transmission defect in this syndrome is characterized by a reduction of acetylcholine release from motor nerve endings. This paper reports that an acetone extract of cancer tissue from a patient with the syndrome reduces the acetylcholine release from motor nerve endings and produces a neuromuscular transmission defect in the frog nerve-muscle preparation. This suggests that the pathogenic substance(s) contained in the extract may be produced by certain types of bronchogenic carcinoma and may cause the myasthenic syndrome.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013577:Syndrome; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014020:Tissue Extracts; D000109:Acetylcholine