title: Effect of immobilization on skeletal muscle nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the rat.
abstract: The effect of 4 weeks of hind limb immobilization on nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptors (nAChRs) in the neuromuscular junction of the soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TIB) muscles was studied in rats. Quantitative measurements of the receptors was performed using [3H]alpha-bungarotoxin ([3H]alpha-BTx) receptor autoradiography. Junctional and extrajunctional nAChRs were significantly increased in the SOL and TIB after 4 weeks immobilization. However, a significant decrease in fiber cross-sectional area was observed only in the SOL muscle. Remobilization for 4 weeks reversed the changes in cholinergic receptors and muscle fibers but not in bone. Our findings suggested that lack of nerve impulses are of importance for the events that take place after immobilization leading to muscle atrophy and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Suliman
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000737:chemistry; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000737:chemistry; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000737:chemistry; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000032:analysis*; D012149:Restraint, Physical
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic