The relationship between muscarinic receptor binding and ion movements in rat parotid cells.

1. The relationship of muscarinic receptor binding to ion fluxes induced by muscarinic agonists was investigated in rat parotid cells. 2. Receptor binding was measured with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate in living, dispersed parotid acinar cells. These same cells were used to determine concentration-effect relationships (ion fluxes) for agonists. 3. Receptor binding of antagonists accurately reflected the pharmacologically determined affinities. In the case of agonists, apparent pharmacological affinities were greater than binding affinities by a factor of 12.5 for methacholine and 18.7 for carbachol. 4. The reason for the discrepancy between agonist binding and effect is not known with certainty, but the existence of "spare" receptors is considered a possibility. 5. The total number of muscarinic receptors is estimated to be 23,000/cell. If some are spare, as few as 1800/cell may suffice to fully activate the available Ca channels.