The cholinergic regulation of potassium (86Rb+) permeability in sweat glands isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis.
Sweat glands isolated from skin obtained from normal subjects and patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) were pre-loaded with 86Rb+ and superfused with a physiological salt solution and the rate of 86Rb+ efflux was measured as an indicator of cellular potassium permeability. Acetylcholine always evoked a permeability increase in the glands from control subjects and this response could be resolved into calcium-dependent and calcium-independent components. Sweat glands from CF patients did not show such consistent responses. In three individuals the glands were abnormally insensitive to acetylcholine but normal responsiveness was seen in a fourth case. It is proposed that CF can induce dysfunction of calcium-dependent control processes in sweat glands.
Wilson
S M
SM
Institute of Physiology, University of Glasgow.
Pediani
J D
JD
Cockburn
F
F
Bovell
D L
DL
Jenkinson
D M
DM
Paton
J Y
JY
Coutts
J
J
Davidson
R
R
Lambert
J
J
Morris
G
G
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000378:metabolism*
D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D000109:Acetylcholine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium