Effect of denervation on acetylcholine synthesizing activity and nicotine-like binding sites in rat hind limb muscles.
The acetylcholine synthesizing (ACh-s) activity and the binding of the nicotine ligands 3H-alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha Btx) and 3H-d-tubocurarine (d-TC) were analysed in rat hind limb muscles 1-32 days after denervation. Muscles of the contralateral leg served as controls. ACh-s activity was considerably lower in tibialis anterior as compared to the extensor digitorum longus and the peroneus longus muscles. After denervation there was a rapid decrease in ACh-s activity in parallel to a considerable increase in alpha-Btx binding. The binding of d-TC was essentially unchanged following denervation indicating the special characteristics of the newly formed receptors. ACh-s activity can be differentiated into one specific (choline acetyltransferase) and one unspecific component.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D003714:Denervation; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000032:analysis
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine; D000109:Acetylcholine