Alterations of beta-adrenergic, muscarinic cholinergic receptors and imipramine binding sites in human lung tumors.

Direct ligand binding techniques have been used to compare beta-adrenergic receptors, muscarinic cholinergic receptors and imipramine binding sites in human tumoral and healthy lungs removed from eleven patients during operations. Beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors are present in tumoral tissues but their concentrations were decreased compared to healthy tissues. Imipramine binding sites were absent. It is concluded that this type of studies could bring additional information to morbid anatomy analysis and be used to follow illness evolution.