Long-term treatment with glucocorticoids increases synthesis and stability of junctional acetylcholine receptors on innervated cultured human muscle.
We have studied the effect of long-term treatment with hydrocortisone on the expression of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the neuromuscular junctions of human muscle cultured in monolayer and innervated de novo by fetal rat spinal cord motoneurons. Hydrocortisone increased accumulation of junctional AChRs in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. This increase was due to both decreased degradation and increased synthesis of AChRs. Other glucocorticoids, dexamethasone and prednisolone, exerted similar effects. Our study demonstrates a novel action of glucocorticoids on human junctional AChRs.
Braun
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S
Ron Stever Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Askanas
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V
Engel
W K
WK
Ibrahim
E N
EN
D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000637:transplantation; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation; D013997:Time Factors
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D003609:Dactinomycin; D012313:RNA; D006854:Hydrocortisone