Acetylcholine receptors. Distribution and extrajunctional density in rat diaphragm after denervation correlated with acetylcholine sensitivity.

Using (125)iodine-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT-(125)I) and quantitative radioautography, we have studied the time-course of the change in acetylcholine (ACh) receptor distribution and density occurring in rat diaphragm after denervation. In innervated fibers, ACh receptors are localized at the neuromuscular junction and the extrajunctional receptor density is less than five receptors per square micrometer. The extrajunctional receptor density begins to increase between 2 and 3 days after denervation and increases approximately linearly to 1695 receptors/microm(2) at 14 days, subsequently decreasing to 529 receptors/microm(2) at 45 days. We have isolated plasma membranes from rat leg muscles at various times after denervation and find that the change in concentration of ACh receptors in the membranes measured by alpha-BGT-(125)I binding and scintillation counting follows a time-course similar to the change in ACh receptor density measured radioautographically. Furthermore, we have correlated extrajunctional ACh receptor density measured by radioautography with extrajunctional ACh sensitivity measured by iontophoretic application of ACh and intracellular recording and find that the log of ACh receptor density is related to 0.53 times the log of ACh sensitivity. These results are discussed in terms of the electrophysiological experiments on the ACh receptor and the recent, more biochemical approaches to the study of ACh receptor control and function.