Abstract
THE distribution of acetylcholine [ACh] receptors in mammalian skeletal muscle is regulated to a large extent by motor nerves1. In innervated muscles, ACh receptors are localised almost exclusively at neuromuscular junctions, but after denervation there is a great increase of extrajunctional receptor density2–5. The trophic mechanisms by which motor nerves normally control extrajunctional ACh receptor density are not well understood. Although ACh transmission and the muscle usage it produces have been shown to play an important role6–11, it has also been suggested that unrelated factors (for example, substances carried by axonal transport) exert some trophic regulatory influence on extrajunctional ACh receptors12–14. Since more than one factor may participate in this regulation, it is important to evaluate the relative contributions of each in quantitative terms. We have therefore made a quantitative comparison of the effects of botulinum toxin and surgical denervation on ACh receptors. Botulinum toxin blocks quantal release of ACh at nerve terminals15 in a highly specific manner that is thought to involve the vesicle release mechanism16. An 125I-α-bungarotoxin binding technique was used for quantitative determination of ACh receptor density17. The results indicate that blockade of ACh transmission by botulinum toxin produces a partial denervation-like increase in extrajunctional ACh receptors, similar to, but somewhat greater than that seen after disuse alone17.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Harris, A. J., A. Rev. Physiol., 36, 251–305 (1974).
Hartzell, H. C., and Fambrough, D. M., J. gen. Physiol., 60, 248–262 (1972).
Axelsson, J., and Thesleff, S., J. Physiol., Lond., 147, 178–193 (1959).
Lee, C. Y., Tseng, L. F., and Chiu, T. H., Nature, 215, 1177–1178 (1967).
Libelius, R., J. neural Transmission, 35, 137–149 (1974).
Drachman, D. B., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 228, 160–176 (1974).
Thesleff, S., J. Phvsiol., Lond., 151, 598–607 (1960).
Hoffman, W. W., Thesleff, S., Eur. J. Pharmac., 20, 256–260 (1972).
Chang, C. C., Chuang, S., and Huang, M. C., J. Physiol., Lond., 250, 161–173 (1975).
Berg, D. W., and Hall, Z. W., J. Physiol., Lond., 244, 659–676 (1975).
Tonge, D. A., J. Physiol., Lond., 241, 127–139 (1974).
Miledi, R., J. Physiol., Lond., 151, 1–23 (1960).
Albuquerque, E. X., Warnick, J. E., Tasse, J. R., and Sansone, F. M., Expl Neurol., 37, 607–634 (1972).
Jones, R., and Vrbova, G., J. Physiol., Lond., 236, 517–538 (1974).
Brooks, V. B., J. Physiol., Lond., 134, 264–277 (1956).
Kao, I., Drachman, D. B., and Price, D. L., Science, 193, 1256–1258 (1976).
Pestronk, A., Drachman, D. B., and Griffin, J. W., Nature, 260, 352–353 (1976).
Duff, J. T., Wright, G. G., Klerer, J., Moore, D. E., and Bibler, R. B., J. Bact., 73, 42–47 (1957).
Ochs, S., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 228, 202–223 (1974).
Griffin, J. W., Drachman, D. B., and Price, D. L., J. Neurobiol., 7, 335–370 (1976).
Griffin, J. W., Price, D. L., Drachman, D. B., and Engel, W. K., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 274, 31–45 (1976).
Fambrough, D. M., J. gen. Physiol., 64, 468–472 (1974).
Berg, D. K., Kelley, R. B., Sargent, P. B., Williamson, P., and Hall, Z. W., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 69, 147–151 (1972).
Drachman, D. B., and Johnston, D. M., J. Physiol, Lond., 252, 657–667 (1975).
Freeman, S. S., Engel, A. G., and Drachman, D. B., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 274, 46–59 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PESTRONK, A., DRACHMAN, D. & GRIFFIN, J. Effect of botulinum toxin on trophic regulation of acetycholine receptors. Nature 264, 787–789 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/264787a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/264787a0
This article is cited by
-
Effects of botulinum toxin induced muscle paralysis on endocytosis and lysosomal enzyme activities in mouse skeletal muscle
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.