Desensitization of the acetylcholine receptor of denervated rat soleus muscle and the effect of calcium.

1 Desensitization of the extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors of denervated rat soleus muscle has been studied by evoking iontophoretic acetylcholine potentials at a high frequency (10 Hz). 2 Desensitization occurred with a slow and at least one fast component. 3 Increasing the dose of acetylcholine decreased the half time of onset of desensitization, but did not alter recovery half time. 4 Alteration of external calcium between 0 and 50 mM, or perfusion with agents which increase intracellular calcium such as 2,4-dinitrophenol and the calcium ionophores, X537A and A23187, did not alter desensitization half time. 5 The cholinoceptor agonists acetylcholine, acetylthiocholine, tetramethylammonium and phenyltrimethylammonium all caused desensitization at the same rate.