Muscarinic receptors: evidence for a nonuniform distribution in tracheal smooth muscle and exocrine glands

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Neurosci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7133774

Basbaum, C B; Grillo, M A; Widdicombe, J H

Muscarinic receptor distribution in smooth muscle, exocrine glands, and epithelium of the ferret trachea was determined using (3H)propylbenzilylcholine mustard ((3H)PrBCM) binding and autoradiography. Specific, atropine-sensitive (3H)PrBCM binding was quantified autoradiographically in the trachealis muscle (approximately 21 binding sites/microns2), surface epithelium (approximately 6 binding sites/microns2), and submucosal glands (approximately 5 binding sites/microns2). Serous and mucous cells in the glands did not differ in receptor density. Binding sites on gland and epithelial cells were associated with basolateral membranes. In the trachealis muscle, a gradient in receptor density was observed, with outer layers of muscle containing 3 to 10 times more receptors per unit area than inner layers. Receptor distribution in both glands and muscle paralleled the distribution of cholinergic axons. However, at the light microscope level, there was no evidence for the presence of receptor ''hot spots'' related to the position of individual axons. The parallelism in the distribution of axons and receptors suggests the possibility of neural control of the genesis and/or maintenance of receptor distribution in these tissues.

• Research Organization: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 7133774
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci.; (United States), Vol. 4:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
TOXINS
RECEPTORS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
EPITHELIUM
MAMMALS
MUSHROOMS
NERVE CELLS
SALIVARY GLANDS
TRACHEA
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
BODY
FUNGI
GLANDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
ORGANS
PLANTS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
TISSUES
TOXIC MATERIALS
VERTEBRATES
551001* - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques