Abstract
ANIMALS immunised with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) purified from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus or Torpedo marmorata develop a muscular weakness which is alleviated by injections of anticholinesterases 1-6. This observation has provided a valuable animal model for study of the disease myasthenia gravis. Sera from rats immunised with electric eel receptor contain antibody to AChR isolated from rat skeletal muscle 2,6, suggesting that the muscular weakness is due to a reduced endplate sensitivity to ACh. We report here a reduction in the ACh sensitivity of denervated muscles from immunised rats. Furthermore, there is a factor in the serum of immunised rats which can reduce the ACh sensitivity of denervated rat muscles in vitro.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 438-439 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 260 |
Issue number | 5550 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 1976 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General