We have studied the effects of ketamine and pentobarbitone on acetylcholine (ACh) release from the rat frontal cortex using microdialysis. Ketamine 25, 50 and 100 mg kg-1 increased ACh release from the frontal cortex to 286%, 253% and 381% of basal release, respectively. In contrast, pentobarbitone 10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1 caused 73%, 78% and 96% inhibition of basal levels, respectively. The resul...

Chick skeletal muscle cells in tissue culture were fixed and treated with saponin to allow [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin access into the cells while preserving ultrastructure. The kinetics of binding of iodinated alpha-bungarotoxin to intracellular acetylcholine (ACh) receptors and to surface A Ch receptors were comparable. About half of the intracellular ACh receptors are newly synthesized and in t...

The odontophore retractor (OR) muscle of Neptunea antiqua depends on external calcium to raise internal cellular calcium concentration of the contractile system to activation level. The acetylcholine (Ach)-and high K-induced responses were abolished in nominally Ca-free and 2 mmol/l EGTA/Ca/free salines. Diltiazem and nifedipine were inhibitory on both Ach and high K responses of the OR muscle....

Acetylcholine (ACh) is important in normal brain function as well as mental illness. Specifically, ACh is of interest in cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia (1), and possibly also negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia (2). In vivo measurement of brain ACh is also important to animal studies of drugs, e.g. antipsychotic drugs (APDs) to treat Alzheimer’s disea...

M(1)-muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (M(1)R) were directly demonstrated immunocytochemically in electronmicroscopic images of rat diaphragm neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). Specific electron-dense granules were located at presynaptic nerve ending membranes and in the sarcolemma in the depths of postsynaptic folds. This first visualization of M(1)R on both sides of the NMJ is in agreement...

Endothelium-dependent relaxations of canine veins isolated from 15 different sites were examined. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused marked endothelium-dependent relaxations in the external jugular vein, superior vena cava, brachiocephalic vein, segment A (supradiaphragmatic portion) and D (infrarenal portion) of the inferior vena cava. However, only contractile responses were induced...

Aims To determine whether the amount of ATP, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and acetylcholine (ACh) in voided urine are influenced enough by that released within lower urinary tract (LUT) for them to be useful biomarkers bladder function. Methods Participants without LUT symptoms collected total voids at 15, 30, 60, 120 min (20 males/23 females) 240 (18 males/26 following previous void. Aliquots were...

We have performed a longitudinal study of the content of the putative neurotransmitter substances, enkephalin, dynorphin, and acetylcholine (ACh), in the cochlea of the Fischer 344 rat. It is the first study of transmitters in the rat cochlea over an extended time span. This study also provides biochemical verification of the presence of ACh in cochlear tissues. No change was seen in the cochle...

Role of muscarinic receptor in the regulation of glucose uptake or lipolysis in adipose tissue remained unclear. In epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) isolated from Wistar rats, we observed that acetylcholine (ACh) attenuated the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and the release of glycerol from WAT in a concentration-dependent manner. Using the blockade of specific antagonists, both actions...

Acetylcholine (ACh)- and high KCl-stimulated 45Ca uptake into rat uterine segments was inhibited by 3-deazaadenosine (3-DAA) plus homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL), and this inhibitory effect was attenuated by L-methionine (L-Met). Ca-depleted Ringer solution in which uterine muscle had been incubated with L-Met did not enhance the contractile response of another uterine segment to ACh and high K...