title: Membrane mechanism associated with muscarinic receptor activation in single cells freshly dispersed from the rat anococcygeus muscle.
abstract: 1 The mechanism of action of carbachol was studied on freshly dispersed cells of the rat anococcygeus using microelectrodes and patch pipettes. 2 Micro-ionophoretic application of carbachol evoked reproducible depolarizations which were reduced or blocked by atropine (10(-7)-10(-6) M). The time courses of the responses to noradrenaline and carbachol were similar. 3 The reversal potential of the carbachol-induced response was -3.8 mV and similar to the value (-6.2 mV) found for noradrenaline. 4 During the response to carbachol the membrane conductance was increased. At depolarized membrane potentials carbachol evoked biphasic membrane responses suggesting an increase in two separate ionic conductances. 5 With patch pipettes in the whole-cell configuration under voltage-clamp, carbachol produced an inward current at a holding potential of -50 mV. The inward current was associated with an increase in membrane conductance with an equilibrium potential of about 0 mV. 6 It is suggested that muscarinic receptors and adrenoceptors in the rat anococcygeus may activate similar membrane conductances. The most prominent mechanism is an increase in chloride ion conductance.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
authors: N G
authors: NG
authors: Byrne
authors: W A
authors: WA
authors: Large
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D001285:Atropine; D002217:Carbachol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine