Studies demonstrate that some colon cancers possess receptors for various gastrointestinal hormones or neurotransmitters, the occupation of which can affect growth. These results are limited because frequently only a small number of tumors are studied, only 1 or 2 receptors are sought, and the effect on cell function is not investigated. In the present study, 10 recently characterized human col...

A number of in vitro studies have shown that activation of muscarinic receptors by cholinergic agonists stimulates the nonamyloidogenic, alpha-secretase-processing pathway of amyloid precursor protein (APP). To determine whether increased cholinergic neurotransmission can modify the APP processing in vivo, we administered a muscarinic receptor agonist (RS86) to normal or aged rats and rats with...

Muscarinic agonist-induced contraction of the ciliary muscle is generally believed to increase aqueous outflow facility and effect accommodation. We used cultured human ciliary muscle cells as a model to study the muscarinic receptor subtype(s) involved in the contractile response of the muscle. Thus, a single cell contraction assay for these muscle cells was developed. And since agonist-induce...

Regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) enzymatic activity in vivo by muscarinic receptor agonists in rat adrenal medulla was characterized in this study. Bethanechol and carbachol produce dose-dependent increases in rat adrenal TH activity. These increases are maximal (approximately 3-fold) using 10 mg/kg bethanechol or 0. 5 mg/kg carbachol and are totally inhibited by prior administration of ...

A central question in behavioural control is how central pattern generators (CPGs) for locomotion are activated. This paper disputes the key role generally accredited to octopamine in activating the CPG for insect flight. In deafferented locusts, fictive flight was initiated by bath application of the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine, the acetylcholine analogue carbachol, and the acetylcholineste...

Food avoidance learning in the mollusc Pleurobranchaea entails reduction in the responsiveness of key brain interneurons in the feeding neural circuitry, the paracerebral feeding command interneurons (PCNs), to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (AcCho). Food stimuli applied to the oral veil of an untrained animal depolarize the PCNs and induce the feeding motor program (FMP). Atropine (a musca...

The basis of the vasodepressor response in patients with carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH) is unknown, and prevention of recurrent vasodepressor-induced hypotension in these patients has not been possible. In this study we assessed the effectiveness of atrioventricular sequential pacing and pharmacologic interventions in the prevention of carotid sinus massage (CSM)-induced vasodepressor res...

The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (MAChR) is an important mediator of parasympathetic regulation of secretion by the rat exorbital lacrimal gland. In order to survey the subcellular distribution of MAChR in lacrimal acinar cells, we have measured the binding of the specific muscarinic cholinergic antagonist [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-QNB) to membrane samples isolated from rat exorbi...