title: Simultaneous comparison of nicotinic receptor antagonists on three nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
abstract: The relative potencies of several nicotinic cholinoceptor antagonists in producing tetanic fade and reduction of striated muscle contraction were investigated in the isolated guinea-pig oesophagus as well as the guinea-pig and rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Contractile smooth muscle responses to vagal stimulation, which involves ganglionic activation, were also measured simultaneously with striated muscle responses in the oesophagus. The relative potency for inhibiting the response of oesophageal smooth muscle to vagal stimulation (20 Hz) was trimetaphan > mecamylamine > hexamethonium > tubocurarine > pancuronium. For oesophageal striated muscle, production of tetanic fade at 100 Hz and reduction in peak tetanic tension at 20 or 100 Hz showed a similar relative potency; pancuronium > tubocurarine > mecamylamine > trimetaphan > hexamethonium and similar results were obtained in the guinea-pig diaphragm for the antagonists investigated (pancuronium, tubocurarine and mecamylamine). In the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, production of tetanic fade at 50 Hz and reduction in twitch or tetanic tension all showed the relative potency; tubocurarine > pancuronium > mecamylamine > trimetaphan > hexamethonium. These findings indicate differences in the nicotinic cholinoceptor subtypes involved in vagal ganglionic responses and those in tetanic fade.
authors.affiliation: Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University, School of Pharmacology, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mitchelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005724:Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic