Skeletal muscle nicotinic receptors

Lingle, C. L., Maconochie, D., and Steinbach, J. H., Activation of skeletal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, J. Memb. Biol., 126, 195-217, 1992 (excellent review of much of the evidence concerning the mechanism of receptor activation). 

Lopez-Vera, E., Jacobsen, R.B., Ellison, M., Ohvera, B.M., and Teichert, R.W. (2007b) A novel alpha conotoxin (a-PIB) isolated from C. purpurascens is selective for skeletal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Toxicon, 49,1193—1199. 

Autoantibodies are directed against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in myasthenia gravis, resulting in receptor loss, skeletal muscle paralysis, and dysfunction (100). In addition, antibodies directed against voltage-gated Ca " channels produce similar neuromuscular dysfunction of Lambert-Eaton... 

Nicotinic receptors (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, nACHR) exist not only in the membrane of vertebrate skeletal muscle at the synapse between nerve and muscle (muscle-type nAChR) but also at various synapses throughout the brain, mainly at presynaptic positions (neuronal-type nAChR). Whereas the muscle-type nAChR is precisely composed of two a 1-subunits, one (3 -subunit, one y -subunit and one y -subunit (adult)... 

Another possible target for toxins are the receptors for neurotransmitters since such receptors are vital, especially for locomotion. In vertebrates the most strategic receptor is that for acetylcholine, the nicotinic receptor. In view of the breadth of action of the various conotoxins it is perhaps not surprising that alpha-conotoxin binds selectively to the nicotinic receptor. It is entirely possible that similar blockers exist for the receptors which are vital to locomotion in lower species. As mentioned previously, lophotoxin effects vertebrate neuromuscular junctions. It appears to act on the end plate region of skeletal muscle (79,59), to block the nicotinic receptor at a site different from the binding sites for other blockers (81). 

Just a year after Stephenson s classical paper of 1956, J. del Castillo and B. Katz published an electrophysiological study of the interactions that occurred when pairs of agonists with related structures were applied simultaneously to the nicotinic receptors at the endplate region of skeletal muscle. Their findings could be best explained in terms of a model for receptor activation that has already been briefly introduced in Section 1.2.3 (see particularly Eq. (1.7)). In this scheme, the occupied receptor can isomerize between an active and an inactive state. This is very different from the classical model of Hill, Clark, and Gaddum in which no clear distinction was made between the occupation and activation of a receptor by an agonist. 

FIGURE 1.9 Records of the minute electrical currents (downward deflections) that flow through single ligandgated ion channels in the junctional region of frog skeletal muscle. The currents arise from brief transitions of individual nicotinic receptors to an active (channel open) state in response to the presence of various agonists (ACh = acetylcholine SubCh = suberyldicholine DecCh = the dicholine ester of decan-1,10-dicarboxylic acid CCh = carbamylcholine). (From Colquhoun, D. and Sakmann, B., J. Physiol., 369,501-557, 1985. With permission.)... 

The answer is d. (Hardman, pp 142—M3.) ACh will stimulate both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Skeletal muscle contraction is mediated through NM receptors, and ganglionic stimulation is an effect of NN receptors All of the other effects listed in the question occur following muscarinic receptor activation and will be blocked by atropine and scopolamine, both of which are muscarinic receptor antagonists. Skeletal muscle contraction will not be affected by these drugs rather, a neuromuscular blocker (e.g., tubocurarine) is required to antagonize this effect of ACh. 

NM receptors—nicotinic-muscular receptors (found in skeletal muscle neuromuscular endplates)... 

The individual subtypes of receptors often show discrete anatomical locations in the peripheral nervous system, and this has facilitated their classification. Nicotinic receptors are found in peripheral ganglia and skeletal muscle. Upon innervation of skeletal muscle, receptors congregate in the junctional or postsynaptic endplate area. Upon denervation or in noninnervated embryonic muscle, the receptors are distributed across the surface of the muscle,... 

Carbachol is a powerful cholinic ester that stimulates both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, as well as exhibits all of the pharmacological properties of acetylcholine while in addition resulting in vasodilation, a decrease in heart rate, an increase in tone and con-tractability of smooth muscle, stimulation of salivary, ocular, and sweat glands as well as autonomic ganglia and skeletal muscle. For this reason, use of carbachol, like acetylcholine, is limited. The exception is that it is used in ophthalmological practice and post-operational intestines and bladder atony. Upon administration in the eye, the pupil constricts and the intraocular pressure is reduced. It is used for severe chronic glaucoma. Synonyms of this drag are doryl and miostat. 

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