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Changes in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in guinea-pig lung: Effects of aging, inhalation of an allergen, administration of drugs, and vagotomy

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Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of aging; inhalation of Konjak-Maiko, a typical Japanese allergen; administration of various drugs; and unilateral cervical vagotomy on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (MAchR) in guinea-pig lung. We assessed the characteristics of MAchR by determining the affinity and the density of MAchR using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, a potent muscarinic antagonist.

A significant decrease in the density of MAchR was observed at 6 months of age and this decrease became more prominent until 2 years of age. No significant change in the affinity of MAchR was noted through the experimental period. Inhalation of Konjak-Maiko (60 min/day, for 10 days) did not affect either the affinity or the density of the receptors. Administration of ipratropium bromide (0.1 mg/kg/day, for 10 days) or prednisolone acetate (2 mg/kg/day, for 7 days) did not affect the characteristics of the receptors. In contrast to these drugs, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, an irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, produced a 26% reduction in the density without affecting the affinity of the receptors. The right cervical vagotomy increased the density of MAchR in the right lung by 17% without affecting the affinity of MAchR. These results suggest that the density of MAchR in lung may be controlled by changes in the activity of the receptors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Tsuruma, Showa-ku, 466, Nagoya, Japan

    Ryujiro Suzuki, Kenzo Takagi & Tatsuo Satake

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  1. Ryujiro Suzuki
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  2. Kenzo Takagi
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  3. Tatsuo Satake
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Suzuki, R., Takagi, K. & Satake, T. Changes in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in guinea-pig lung: Effects of aging, inhalation of an allergen, administration of drugs, and vagotomy. Lung 163, 173–182 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02713819

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02713819

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