title: Effects of protein-energy malnutrition on muscarinic receptor density and acetylcholinesterase activity in rat brain.
abstract: The effect of protein-energy malnutrition on the muscarinic receptor density as indicated by 3H-N-methylscopolamine binding, and acetylcholinesterase activity was studied in several brain areas (hippocampus, motor area, somatosensory area, and basal ganglia) of adult female rats. Malnutrition tended to cause a decrease in muscarinic receptors in the motor cortex (undernourished 350.0 +/- 33.5 vs. control 410.0 +/- 26.9 fmol/mg protein) and somatosensory cortex (undernourished 357.1 +/- 35.9 vs. control 416.7 +/- 29.4 fmol/mg protein). However, significant decreases in muscarinic receptor occurred in the hippocampus (undernourished 319.2 +/- 31.7 vs. control 403.1 +/- 43.6 fmol/mg protein) and basal ganglia (undernourished 297.0 +/- 11.8 vs. control 401.3 +/- 17.7 fmol/mg protein). No significant differences in acetylcholinesterase activity or protein content were observed between control and undernourished animals in any of the brain areas studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019832:N-Methylscopolamine; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000378:metabolism; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D011506:Proteins; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D014316:Tritium; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D019832:N-Methylscopolamine