Immunocytochemical studies of M2 muscarinic receptors in guinea pig atria and ventricles using anti-peptide antibodies.

The localization and density of M2 muscarinic receptors in guinea pig atria and ventricles were studied by immunocytochemical techniques, with anti-peptide antibodies against the second extracellular loop of human muscarinic receptor-2. It was shown that the positive immunoreaction of M2 muscarinic receptor was characterized by brown-yellow granules of variable size and shape, which were located mainly on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm far from nuclei. The positive immunoreactive substances appeared in both atrial and ventricular myocytes, with the density being greater in atria than in ventricles. Pre-incubation with atropine, but not carbachol, significantly reduced the intensity of positive immunoreactivity. This indicates that the binding of antibody to receptor site can be partially blocked by M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist.