title: Acetylcholine is released from in vitro cat carotid bodies during hypoxic stimulation.
abstract: Previous pharmacological, immunocytochemical, electrophysiological, and microfluorometric studies have suggested that acetylcholine (ACh) is a critically important excitatory transmitter in the chemotransduction of hypoxia by the cat carotid body (CB). With the use of HPLC this study shows that the in vitro cat CB releases ACh under normoxic conditions; this release is increased when the CB is challenged with hypoxia. The preliminary observation that greater amounts of ACh are liberated in the presence of gallamine and AFDX116 suggests the presence of functioning M2 muscarinic receptors on the glomus cells of the CB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Instituions, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirahata
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D010890:Pirenzepine; D008464:Mecamylamine; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine; C048593:otenzepad; D005703:Gallamine Triethiodide