title: The effect of cholinergic stimulation on cultured smooth muscle cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of cholinergic angonists and antagonists on the growth control of cultured rabbit detrusor smooth muscle cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dosage dependent growth curve analysis of smooth muscle cells in standard media to bethanechol and atropine at concentrations from 1 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-9) mMol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exogenous exposure to bethanechol results in a significant dose dependent increase in total cell number over a 10 day period. At a concentration of 1 x 10-6 and 1 x 10-5 mMol a 20% to 50% growth increase is noted. Exogenous atropine at all concentrations decreased growth by approximately five fold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exogenous application of muscarinic cholinergic agonists and antagonists can significantly effect bladder muscle cell growth in vitro. The mechanism of growth control through these pharmacological receptors remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Malkowicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018723:Bethanechol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D018723:Bethanechol; D001285:Atropine