Effect of denervation on acetylcholine synthesizing activity and nicotine-like binding sites in rat hind limb muscles

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Abstract
The acetylcholine synthesizing (ACh-s) activity and the binding of the nicotinic ligands 3H-.alpha.-bungarotoxin (.alpha.-Btx) and 3H-d-tubocurarine (d-TC) were analyzed in rat hind limb muscles 1-32 days after denervation. Muscles of the contralateral leg served as controls. ACh-s activity was considerably lower in tibialis anterior as compared to the extensor digitorum longus and the peroneus longus muscles. After denervation there was a rapid decrease in ACh-s activity in parallel to a considerable increase in .alpha.-Btx binding. The binding of d-TC was essentially unchanged following denervation indicating the special characteristics of the newly formed receptors. ACh-s activity can be differentiated into 1 specific (choline acetyltransferase) and 1 unspecific component.