PARALLEL MATURATION OF THE PANCREATIC SECRETORY RESPONSE TO CHOLINERGIC STIMULATION AND THE MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR POPULATION

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Abstract
The appearance of pancreatic muscarinic receptors during development has been measured by use of the specific ligand [3H]‐quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]‐QNB). QNB binding sites are present in foetal pancreas; their maximal concentration is attained at the age of 30 days and a significant decrease is observed in one year old animals. Affinity of [3H]‐QNB for the muscarinic receptor does not change with age. An evaluation of the pancreatic secretory response to a cholinoceptor agonist as a function of age indicates that the development of this response parallels that of the receptor population. It is suggested that, at all ages from 3 days after birth onwards, the maximal secretory response of the exocrine pancreas to a cholinoceptor agonist mobilizes the same proportion of the total population of QNB binding sites.