title: Effect of cold stress on cholinergic receptors in the rat adrenal gland.
abstract: The effects of cold exposure on cholinergic binding sites in the rat adrenal gland were assessed by examining the binding of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX), a nicotonic receptor antagonist and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, to adrenal tissue homogenates. Cold exposure resulted in significant alterations in both nicotinic and muscarinic binding. Exposure to cold for 4 and 7 days resulted in a significant decrease in QNB binding. Scatchard analysis indicates that this alteration is due to a decrease in binding sites (Bmax) rather than a change in ligand affinity (Kd). In contrast, chronic cold exposure produced a significant increase in BTX binding sites. These results indicate that adrenal cholinergic receptors are altered in reciprocal fashion by chronic cold exposure, and that this change may represent a key event in the sympathoadrenal system's adaptive response to chronic cold stress.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baruchin
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008297:Male; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate