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Binding of /sup 125/I alpha-bungarotoxin to the thymus of mice

Journal Article · · Arch. Neurol.; (United States)
; ;

Alpha-bungarotoxin is known to bind with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of skeletal muscle. Binding of iodine 125-labeled alpha bungarotoxin to the murine thymus, muscle, and liver was estimated. The toxin was bound to the muscle. The thymus was also capable of binding a considerable amount of the toxin, and the binding was obviously blocked by tubocurarine chloride. Binding to the liver, an organ containing no nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, was very slight. These results may indicate the presence of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the thymus, which could have implications in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. Degenerating myoid cells and their receptors may represent autoantigens that induce an immunological cross-reaction with the receptors of skeletal muscles, giving rise to myasthenia gravis.

Research Organization:
Niigata Univ., Japan
OSTI ID:
6661648
Journal Information:
Arch. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 35:1; ISSN ARNEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYLCHOLINE
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BODY
CHEMICAL BONDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DRUGS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ESTERS
GLANDS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIVER
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MAMMALS
MICE
MUSCLES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
THYMUS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES