title: Quantification of extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors in human muscle biopsies.
abstract: Extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors were quantified in human muscle biopsies by in vitro autoradiography with 3H-alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Btx). Specific alpha-Btx binding was found in seven of eight biopsies with histological and/or histochemical signs of denervation. The highest binding (21 fmol/mg) was seen in the biopsy with the most pronounced signs of denervation. The specimens with co-existing signs of innervation had generally lower binding levels. Four of the control biopsies showed low binding (less than or equal to 1 fmol/mg) while no specific binding could be detected in the other six controls. The findings suggest that this method cannot only be used to demonstrate denervation in muscle biopsy specimens, but also to give a quantitative measure of the changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Askmark
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Henriksson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001345:Autoradiography; D001706:Biopsy; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D014316:Tritium