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Quantification of extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors in human muscle biopsies
Author(s) -
Askmark H.,
Bäckman E.,
Gillberg P.G.,
Henriksson K.G.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04693.x
Subject(s) - denervation , acetylcholine receptor , biopsy , acetylcholine , muscle biopsy , receptor , in vitro , myasthenia gravis , endocrinology , medicine , neuromuscular junction , chemistry , pathology , biology , biochemistry , neuroscience
Extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors were quantified in human muscle biopsies by in vitro autoradiography with 3 H‐alpha‐bungarotoxin (alpha‐Btx). Specific alpha‐Btx binding was found in seven of eight biopsies with histological and/or histochemical signs of denervation. The highest binding (21 fmol/mg) was seen in the biopsy with the most pronounced signs of denervation. The specimens with co‐existing signs of reinnervation had generally lower binding levels. Four of the control biopsies showed low binding (≤ 1 fmo1/mg) while no specific binding could be detected in the other six controls. The findings suggest that this method cannot only be used to demonstrate denervation in muscle biopsy specimens, but also to give a quantitative measure of the changes.