Article date: April 1978
By: S.M. KIRPEKAR, J.C. PRAT in Volume 62, Issue 4, pages 549-552
The possibility of concanavalin A (Con A) blocking the development of desensitization of nicotinic receptors of the cat adrenal gland has been investigated.
During perfusion of the adrenal gland with Krebs‐bicarbonate solution containing acetylcholine (ACh), the rate of catecholamine (CA) secretion was very high in the first 2 min; thereafter, as perfusion with ACh was continued the output fell, to reach about 20% of the initial value in 10 minutes. When the adrenal gland was pretreated with Con A, the subsequent desensitization of release during continued infusion of ACh was prevented.
When the adrenal gland was perfused with high K+ solution, there was always a large initial secretion of CA, and as perfusion with high K+ continued the output fell, to reach about 15% of the initial rate in 10 minutes. Con A did not affect the rate of CA secretion induced by high K+.
It is tentatively suggested that Con A blocks the desensitization of CA secretion evoked by ACh by interaction with the glycoprotein moiety of the nicotinic receptor of adrenal chromaffin cells.
The possibility of concanavalin A (Con A) blocking the development of desensitization of nicotinic receptors of the cat adrenal gland has been investigated.
During perfusion of the adrenal gland with Krebs‐bicarbonate solution containing acetylcholine (ACh), the rate of catecholamine (CA) secretion was very high in the first 2 min; thereafter, as perfusion with ACh was continued the output fell, to reach about 20% of the initial value in 10 minutes. When the adrenal gland was pretreated with Con A, the subsequent desensitization of release during continued infusion of ACh was prevented.
When the adrenal gland was perfused with high K+ solution, there was always a large initial secretion of CA, and as perfusion with high K+ continued the output fell, to reach about 15% of the initial rate in 10 minutes. Con A did not affect the rate of CA secretion induced by high K+.
It is tentatively suggested that Con A blocks the desensitization of CA secretion evoked by ACh by interaction with the glycoprotein moiety of the nicotinic receptor of adrenal chromaffin cells.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1978.tb07760.x
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