Pre- and Postsynaptic Effects of Muscarinic Antagonists in the Isolated Guinea Pig Ileum

Several compounds have been claimed to differentiate between subtypes of muscarinic receptors (2). In the experiments described in this chapter we have studied in the guinea-pig ileum whether the presynaptic muscarinic receptors of the cholinergic nerves differ from the postsynaptic muscarinic receptors of the longitudinal muscle in their affinities for several muscarinic antagonists (methylatropine; trihexyphenidyl; clozapine; DAMP). Inhibition by oxotremorine of the evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) was used as a parameter of presynaptic activity, and the increase by oxotremorine of smooth muscle tension as a postsynaptic parameter. The affinity constants (pA2 values) of the antagonis…