Calcitonin gene-related peptide, a peptide present in spinal cord motoneurons, increases the number of acetylcholine receptors in primary cultures of chick embryo myotubes.
Using immunohistochemical methods we show that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP, a peptide encoded by the calcitonin gene) is present in chick spinal cord motoneurons. When added to cultured chicken myotubes, CGRP caused an average 1.5-fold increase in levels of surface acetylcholine receptors. Moreover, the effect of CGRP was independent of the one produced by tetrodotoxin, a blocker of membrane electrical activity but not of that caused by cholera toxin, an activator of adenylate cyclase.
D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide