title: Myasthenia gravis. Current concepts.
abstract: The prevalent theory of the past two decades, that the defect in myasthenia gravis (MG) is the packaging of achetylcholine (Ach) into smaller quantal units, has recently been revised. The current theory is based on (1) electron microscopical studies of motor end plates in patients with MG; (2) radioisotope study with alpha-bungarotoxin of postsynaptic membrane Ach receptor (Ach R) sites; (3) sensitization of rabbits with the use of purified Ach R from the electric eel, inducing experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG); (4) detection of antibodies to the Ach R in patients with MG by radioimmunoassay; and (5) apparent induction of MG in mice by passive transfer of immunoglobulin from patients with MG. Thus, the emphasis on pathogenesis of MG is now placed on an autoimmune process involving Ach R in the subsynaptic membrane of neuromuscular junctions.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000109:Acetylcholine