In vitro effects of organophosphorus anticholinesterases on muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of acetylcholine release in rat striatum

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro modulation of muscarinic autoreceptor function by the organophosphorus (OP) anticholinesterases chlorpyrifos oxon, paraoxon, and methyl paraoxon. Acetylcholine (ACh) release was studied by preloading slices from rat striatum with [3H]choline and depolarizing with potassium (20 mM) in perfusion buffer containing hemicholinium-3 (to prevent reuptake of radiolabeled choline). Under these conditions, chlorpyrifos oxon, paraoxon, and methyl paraoxon (0.1-10 microM) all reduced ACh release in a concentration-dependent manner. Addition of the carbamate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor physostigmine (20 microM) to the perfusion buffer also decreased ACh release. When physostigmine was present, the three oxons had no additional effect on ACh release. Concentration-dependent inhibition of AChE activity in striatal slices perfused with chlorpyrifos oxon (0.1, 1, and 10 microM) suggested AChE inhibition was responsible for oxon-mediated alterations in ACh release. To differentiate between direct and indirect actions of the OP toxicants on muscarinic autoreceptors, we compared the effects of the oxons on ACh release under two conditions, i.e., tissues were perfused with buffer containing only hemicholinium-3 or with buffer containing hemicholinium-3, physostigmine, and the nonselective muscarinic receptor blocker atropine (100 nM). In the presence of only hemicholinium-3, concentration-dependent inhibition of ACh release was again noted for all oxons, similar to the effects of the muscarinic agonists carbachol and cis-dioxolane. In the presence of physostigmine and atropine, the relative potencies of all agents were markedly reduced. Interestingly, carbachol, cis-dioxolane, paraoxon, and methyl paraoxon all decreased ACh release as before, but chlorpyrifos oxon (100-300 microM) actually increased ACh release. Together, the results suggest that chlorpyrifos oxon, paraoxon, and methyl paraoxon can activate muscarinic autoreceptors indirectly through inhibition of AChE. Both paraoxon and methyl paraoxon also directly activate whereas chlorpyrifos oxon blocks muscarinic autoreceptor function. Qualitative differences in the direct actions of these oxons at this presynaptic regulatory site could contribute to differential toxicity with high-dose exposures.     

Propylbenzilylcholine mustard is selective for rat heart muscarinic receptors having a low affinity for agonists.

Propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM), an irreversible muscarinic antagonist, inactivated receptors with a low affinity for agonists faster than those with a high affinity in rat heart membranes. This result was obtained using either: (a) a low ionic strength buffer (allowing heterogeneity among antagonist binding sites, (b) the same buffer enriched with GTP, or (c) a high ionic strength buffer (where antagonists showed similar binding characteristics to all receptors). These data suggest either that PrBCM is a 'selective' antagonist which detects conformational differences between low and high affinity receptors, or that the agonist affinity of cardiac muscarinic receptors is determined, in part, by the relative concentrations of receptor and GTP binding protein.     

In vitro characterization of tripitramine, a polymethylene tetraamine displaying high selectivity and affinity for muscarinic M2 receptors.

1. The antimuscarinic effects of tripitramine were investigated in vitro in isolated driven left (force) and spontaneously beating right (force and rate) atria as well as in the ileum of guinea-pig and rat and in the trachea and lung strip of guinea-pig and compared with the effects of methoctramine. 2. Tripitramine was a potent competitive antagonist of muscarinic M2 receptors in right and left atria. The pA2 values ranged from 9.14 to 9.85. However, in the guinea-pig and rat left atria but not in guinea-pig right atria, tripitramine at lower concentrations (3-10 nM) produced a less than proportional displacement to the right of agonist-induced responses owing to the presence of a possible saturable removal process. 3. Tripitramine was about three orders of magnitude less potent in ileal and tracheal than in atrial preparations (pA2 values ranging from 6.34 to 6.81) which makes it more potent and more selective than methoctramine. 4. Another intriguing finding was the observation that the pA2 value of 7.91 observed for tripitramine in guinea-pig lung does not correlate with that found at both muscarinic M2 and M3 receptor subtypes, which clearly indicates that the contraction of guinea-pig lung strip is not mediated by these muscarinic receptor subtypes. 5. A combination of tripitramine with atropine resulted in addition of the dose-ratios for left atria as required for two antagonists interacting competitively with the same receptor site, whereas the same combination gave a supra-additive antagonism on guinea-pig ileum which suggests that tripitramine interacts with a second interdependent site. 6. Tripitramine was more specific than methoctramine since, in addition to muscarinic receptors, it inhibited only frog rectus abdominis muscular (pIC50 value of 6.14) and rat duodenum neuronal (pIC50 value of 4.87) nicotinic receptors among receptor systems investigated, namely alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta 1-adrenoceptors, H1- and H2-histamine receptors, and muscular and neuronal nicotinic receptors.     

p-Fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol: affinity for vascular muscarinic receptors

The M3-selective antagonist, p-fluorohexahydro-sila-difenidol was used to characterize muscarinic receptors in two vascular preparations, the rabbit ear artery with an endothelium-dependent relaxation and the bovine coronary artery with an endothelium-independent contractile response. pKB values were consistent with the presence of M3 receptors, 7.9 and 7.5 in coronary and ear arteries, respectively. These findings confirm that muscarinic receptors of the rabbit ear artery and bovine coronary artery have similar characteristics and belong to the M3 subtype.     

Evidence of paired M2 muscarinic receptors

Binding assays involving various antagonists, including N-[3H] methylscopolamine, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, AFDX-116, pirenzepine, and propylbenzilylcholine mustard, disclosed only a single population of M2 muscarinic receptors in membranes from the rat "brainstem" (medulla, pons, and colliculi). However, competition curves between N-[3H]methylscopolamine and various agonists, including oxotremorine, cis-dioxolane, and acetylethylcholine mustard, showed approximately equal numbers of guanine nucleotide-sensitive high affinity (H) sites and guanine nucleotide-insensitive low affinity (L) sites. This 50% H phenomenon persisted in different buffers, at different temperatures, after the number of receptors was halved (and, thus, the remaining receptor to guanine nucleotide-binding protein ratio was doubled), after membrane solubilization with digitonin, and when rabbit cardiac membranes were used instead of rat brainstem membranes. Preferential occupation of H sites with acetylethylcholine mustard, and of L sites with quinuclidinyl benzilate or either mustard, yielded residual free receptor populations showing predominantly L and H sites, respectively. Low concentrations of [3H]-oxotremorine-M labeled only H sites, and the Bmax for these sites was 49% of the Bmax found with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate plus guanine nucleotide. These and other results are most consistent with the idea that H and L receptor sites exist on separate but dimeric receptor molecules and with the hypothesis that only the H receptors cycle between high and low affinity, depending upon interactions between this receptor molecule and a guanine nucleotide-binding protein.     

Evaluation of an agonist index: affinity ratio for compounds active on muscarinic cholinergic M2 receptors

1 A protocol for predicting full agonist, partial agonist, and antagonist profiles of compounds with M₂ muscarinic cholinergic receptor activity was developed using radioligand binding assay techniques with [³H]-N-methyl scopolamine (NMS) and [³H]-Oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M) as radioligands. 2 Full muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonists such as muscarine and oxotremorine-M expressed a high agonist index (> 3000 for M₁ muscarinic cholinergic receptors and > 900 for M₂ muscarinic cholinergic receptor), whereas muscarinic receptor antagonists (selective or non-selective) for different receptor subtypes gave a low (0.5–10) agonist index. 3 Functional studies performed on preparations of guinea-pig ileum and heart were consistent with radioligand binding assay experiments. 4 The above results suggest that similarly as already established for the M₁ muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtype, evaluation of the [³H]-NMS/[³H]-Oxo-M ratio may provide useful information on the profile of compounds acting at the M₂ muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtype. 5 The availability of simple and predictive techniques for the characterization of muscarinic M₂ cholinergic receptor agonists, may help the identification of new compounds in therapeutic areas in which stimulation or inhibition of this receptor is desirable.     

Determination of muscarinic agonist potencies at M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors in a modified pithed rat preparation

Summary The agonistic potencies of (±)muscarine, (±)cis - 2 - methyl - 5 - [(dimethylamino)methyl] - 1,3 -oxathiolane methiodide (cis-oxathiolane) and its two enantiomers were determined at muscarinic M₁ and M₂ receptors in the pithed rat. In non-pretreated animals, i.v. administration of these agents produced bradycardic effects mediated by cardiac M₂ receptors followed by increases in heart rate mediated by M1 receptors in sympathetic ganglia. As these responses have been shown to partly overlap, “true” M₁ and M₂ potencies were determined after selective blockade of M₁ and M₂ receptors by pirenzepine and methoctramine, respectively. A similar rank order of agonist potencies was obtained at M₁ and M₂ receptors: (+)cis-oxathiolane > (±)cis-oxathiolane > (±)muscarine > (-)cis-oxathiolane. At both receptor subtypes, (+)cis-oxathiolane was considerably more potent (ca. 30-fold) than its corresponding (−) enantiomer indicating that the agonist binding sites of the two receptor subtypes may have similar stereochemical properties. While (±)muscarine showed similar potencies at M₁ and M₂ receptors, racemic cis-oxathiolane and its two enantiomers showed a slight selectivity (3–7 fold) for M₁ receptors indicating the potential usefulness of these compounds in the development of selective M₁ receptor agonists. Send offprint requests to F. Cantalamessa at the above address     

Increased function of inhibitory neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors in diabetic rat lungs

1. The function of inhibitory neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors in diabetic rat lungs was investigated.
2. Neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors inhibit acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nerves. Thus, stimulation of neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors with muscarinic agonists, such as pilocarpine, inhibits acetylcholine release and vagally induced bronchoconstriction. In contrast, blockade of neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors with selective M₂ muscarinic antagonists, such as AF-DX 116, potentiates acetylcholine release and vagally induced bronchoconstriction.
3. Rats were made diabetic by streptozotocin (65 mg kg⁻¹, i.v.). After 7–14 days the rats were anaesthetized with urethane (1.5 g kg⁻¹, i.p.), tracheostomized, vagotomized, ventilated and paralysed with suxamethonium (30 mg kg⁻¹, i.v.). Some 7 day diabetic rats were treated with low doses of long acting (NPH) insulin (2 units day⁻¹, s.c.) for 7 days before experimentation. This dose of insulin was not sufficient to restore normoglycaemia in diabetic rats. Thus, insulin-treated diabetic rats remained hyperglycaemic.
4. Distal electrical stimulation (5–70 Hz, 6 s, 40 V, 0.4 ms) of the vagi caused bronchoconstriction, measured as an increase in inflation pressure and bradycardia. In diabetic rats, vagally induced bronchoconstriction was significantly depressed vs controls. In contrast, bronchoconstriction caused by i.v. acetylcholine was similar in diabetic and control animals.
5. The function of neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors was tested with the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine (0.001–100.0 μg kg⁻¹, i.v.) and the antagonist AF-DX 116 (0.01–3.0 mg kg⁻¹, i.v.). Pilocarpine inhibited vagally-induced bronchoconstriction (30 Hz, 20–40 V, 0.4 ms at 6 s) and AF-DX 116 potentiated vagally-induced bronchoconstriction (20 Hz, 20–40 V, 0.4 ms at 6 s) to a significantly greater degree in diabetic rats compared to controls.
6. Both frequency-dependent vagally-induced bronchoconstriction and M₂ muscarinic receptor function could be restored to nearly control values in diabetic rats treated with low doses of insulin.
7. Displacement of [³H]QNB (1 nM) with the agonist carbachol (10.0 nM–10.0 mM) from diabetic cardiac M₂ muscarinic receptors revealed a half log increase in agonist binding affinity at both the high and low affinity binding sites vs controls. In contrast, M₂ receptors from insulin-treated diabetic rat hearts showed no significant difference in binding affinity vs controls.
8. These data show that neuronal M₂ muscarinic receptors in the lungs have increased function in diabetic rats, suggesting that insulin modulates M₂ muscarinic receptor function.

     

Evidence for prejunctional M2 muscarinic receptors in pulmonary cholinergic nerves in the rat.

1. The effects of muscarinic antagonists considered to be selective for M1 receptors (pirenzepine) and for M2 receptors (gallamine and methoctramine) were used to investigate the existence of prejunctional muscarinic receptors on cholinergic nerves in the rat lung. The tracheal tube preparation was used in vitro, and contraction of the trachealis muscle was induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and by application of an exogenous muscarinic agonist (pilocarpine), and measured as an increase in intraluminal pressure in the tube. 2. The muscarinic antagonists, gallamine and methoctramine, enhanced the contractions induced by nerve stimulation, while contractions elicited by exogenous application of pilocarpine were inhibited by the antagonists. 3. In contrast, pirenzepine blocked contractions induced by both EFS and pilocarpine in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 0.1 microM) due to blockade of the postjunctional muscarinic receptors on airway smooth muscle. Potentiation of the response to EFS was never seen with this antagonist. 4. The muscarinic agonist, pilocarpine, caused a slow maintained increase in tone of the tracheal tube and at the same time reduced the contractions induced by EFS. This inhibitory effect was blocked by gallamine and methoctramine. 5. The results suggest that prejunctional inhibitory muscarinic receptors may be localised on the parasympathetic cholinergic nerve terminals innervating tracheal smooth muscle in the rat. This confirms previous findings obtained by measuring transmitter release in this species. The present results suggest that these receptors are of the M2 subtype. Blockade of these autoreceptors with gallamine or methoctramine would increase the output of acetylcholine (ACh) and thereby enhance the nerve-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle.     

星形胶质细胞毒蕈碱样乙酰胆碱受体M2、M4亚型基因克隆及序列分析

目的：克隆胶质细胞M_2、M_4受体亚型基因序列，并比较胶质细胞M_2、M_4受体亚型基因序列和蛋白质序列与神经元细胞M_2、M_4受体基因序列和蛋白质序列间的差异。方法：根据神经元细胞M_2、M_4受体基因序列设计出针对M_2、M_4受体基因序列全长的特异性探针，采用RT-PCR方法扩增胶质细胞M_2、M_4受体亚型基因序列，并对其进行克隆测序。结果：通过RT-PCR方法扩增胶质细胞M_2、M_4受体亚型基因序列，与神经元细胞M_2、M_4受体比较，M_2受体差异碱基17个，发生氨基酸改变的有8个；M_4受体差异碱基3个，发生氨基酸改变的有2个。结论：胶质细胞M_2、M_4受体与神经细胞M_2、M_4受体亚型在基因序列和氨基酸序列上具有明显差异。     

Cyproheptadine displays high affinity for muscarinic receptors but does not discriminate between receptor subtypes

The affinity of cyproheptadine for different muscarinic receptor subtypes was investigated in vitro by functional experiments in field-stimulated vas deferens of the rabbit (ganglionic M1- and cardiac M2-receptors) and in guinea-pig ileum (smooth muscle M3-receptors). Cyproheptadine displayed high but similar affinity for all muscarinic receptor subtypes studied (pA2 = 7.99-8.02). In contrast, (+)-telenzepine (M1 over M2 and M3), and for mefurtramine (M2 over M3 and M1) were found to be selective.     

有机磷类杀虫剂与毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱M2受体的磷酸化

目的探讨有机磷类杀虫剂对大鼠脑G蛋白偶联受体激酶2介导的毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱M2受体磷酸化的影响。方法采用亲和层析法从大鼠脑组织纯化毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱M2受体;将纯化的毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱M2受体或β-肾上腺素受体、G蛋白偶联受体激酶-2,[γ-p~（32）]ATP与对氧磷（PO）、氧毒死蜱（CPO）共同保温,聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离蛋白,放射性自显影检测M2受体磷酸化结果。结果氧毒死蜱完全抑制大鼠脑M2受体的磷酸化,其半数抑制浓度（IC_（50））为70μmol/L;对氧磷不抑制M2受体的磷酸化;氧毒死蜱和对氧磷都不抑制β-肾上腺素受体的磷酸化。结论氧毒死蜱可选择性地抑制大鼠脑M2受体的磷酸化;某些有机磷杀虫剂存在其他靶分子或作用途径。     

2型糖尿病大鼠膀胱M_3受体改变的实验研究

目的研究病程3周的2型糖尿病大鼠膀胱M3受体含量及其基因转录水平的变化情况,探讨糖尿病性膀胱早期发病机制中逼尿肌M3受体的改变情况。方法2 d龄雌性Wistar大鼠随机分成2型糖尿病组和正常对照组,链脲佐菌素按90 mg/kg体重腹腔注射并结合高糖高脂饮食诱导2型糖尿病大鼠模型。于糖尿病病程3周时进行下列实验:反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法检测M3受体mRNA的含量;Western blotting方法检测膀胱M3受体蛋白的含量。结果RT-PCR方法检测结果显示:糖尿病组大鼠膀胱M3受体mRNA的数量显著高于正常对照组[(52.0±5.7)%vs(35.6±11.7)%,P<0.05]。Western blotting方法检测结果显示:糠尿病组大鼠膀胱M3受体含量显著高于正常对照组[(30.9±2.1)%vs(23.4±4.7)%,P<0.01]。结论本研究证实了糖尿病性膀胱早期M3受体的生物合成上调这一改变,从而解释了糖尿病早期膀胱逼尿肌收缩力增加这一现象。这可能是早期糖尿病性膀胱病变的一个发病机制。     

The effects of anticholinesterases on synaptic transmission through nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in rat sympathetic ganglia in vivo

1 Stimulation of the entire spinal sympathetic outflow at supramaximal voltage and 25-100 Hz, in the chlorisondamine-treated, pithed, adrenalectomized rat produced a delayed pressor response (late pressor response; LPR).2 The LPR was abolished by phenoxybenzamine, bretylium or a small dose of atropine (25-50 mug/kg), suggesting the involvement of ganglionic muscarinic receptors.3 In the presence of atropine at a dose level (15 mug/kg) which did not influence the LPR, the anticholinesterases physostigmine, neostigmine and Ro 02-0683 but not BW 284C51 markedly enhanced and prolonged the LPR, whereas all of them reduced the pressor responses to AHR-602.4 After blockade of the ganglionic muscarinic receptors with a large dose of atropine (250 mug/kg) the four anticholinesterases did not influence responses to DMPP or noradrenaline and only slightly enhanced responses to preganglionic nerve stimulation at 6 Hz in the absence of chlorisondamine.5 It is concluded that inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase accounts for the enhancement and prolongation of the LPR by anticholinesterases.     

Assessment of a model for the opposing effects of N-ethylmaleimide on the affinity of muscarinic agonists for M2 receptors.

1. Homogenates of guinea pig right atrium (M2 receptors) were treated with N-ethylmaleimide, after which the ability of carbachol to inhibit binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate was studied. 2. At 37 degrees C, 10(-4) M and 10(-3) M, but not 10(-5) M, N-ethylmaleimide increased the affinity of carbachol for the receptor. At 2 degrees C, 10(-5) M and 10(-4) M, but not 10(-3) M, N-ethylmaleimide decreased carbachol affinity. At 2 degrees C, after the homogenate had been incubated at 37 degrees C without N-ethylmaleimide, 10(-5) M N-ethylmaleimide decreased carbachol affinity, as at 2 degrees C without preincubation, but 10(-3) M N-ethylmaleimide increased carbachol affinity, as at 37 degrees C. 10(-4) M N-ethylmaleimide was without effect. 3. The results are discussed with respect to a previously proposed model in which N-ethylmaleimide interacts with two sites, causing an increase or decrease in agonist affinity respectively.     

A search for selective antagonists at M2 muscarinic receptors.

Isolated preparations of guinea-pig ileum and atria have been used to estimate the dose-ratios produced by antagonists at muscarinic receptors. Experiments with 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4DAMP) metho-salts and with its isomer, 3DAMP methiodide, indicate that these are only slightly affected by the choice of physiological salt solution, the choice of agonist and the presence or absence of hexamethonium. Methyl or chloro groups in the p-position of the two benzene rings in 4DAMP metho-salts markedly reduce affinity and selectivity. When the two benzene rings are linked together, as in the fluorene-9-carboxylic ester, the affinity for the receptors in the atria is comparable with that of 4DAMP methobromide but that for the ileum is about half, so the selectivity is reduced. When the rings are linked as in the xanthene-9-carboxylic ester, the affinity for receptors in both tissues is greater than that of 4DAMP methobromide but there is less selectivity. When two molecules of 4DAMP are linked together by a polymethylene chain of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms the effects on affinity for muscarinic receptors in the guinea-pig ileum are different from those on affinity for muscarinic receptors in guinea-pig atria. The pentamethylene compound is the most selective: compared with 4DAMP methobromide it has slightly less affinity for receptors in the ileum but much less affinity for receptors in the atria. The effects of the compounds in antagonizing the actions of carbachol on atrial rate are not markedly different from their effects in antagonizing its actions on the force of the atrial contractions.     

Differential agonist-induced regulation of human M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors

We have compared the regulation of M(2) and M(3) muscarinic receptors heterologously expressed in HEK-293 cells upon long-term exposure towards the agonist carbachol. Carbachol time- and concentration-dependently reduced M(2) receptor density with a maximum reduction of about 60%. Treatment with 1mM carbachol for 24hr was accompanied by desensitisation of carbachol-induced Ca(2+) elevations (maximum response reduced by 70%) but not by alterations in the expression of various G-protein alpha-subunits. Consistently, heterologous desensitisation of Ca(2+) elevations by the purinergic receptor agonist ATP or by sphingosine-1-phosphate was not detected. In contrast, carbachol time- and concentration-dependently up-regulated M(3) receptors with maximum increases to about 350% of control values. The up-regulation was fully blocked by cycloheximide indicating that it was dependent on protein synthesis. Concomitant with the up-regulation of the M(3) receptor was a reduction in the expression of the alpha-subunit of G(q/11). The net effect of these two opposite regulatory mechanisms was a lack of alteration of carbachol-stimulated Ca(2+) elevation. However, the reduction of G(q/11) was accompanied by a heterologous desensitisation of Ca(2+) elevations by ATP and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Levels of M(2) and M(3) receptor mRNA as assessed by real-time PCR were not significantly altered by carbachol exposure for either receptor, suggesting that alterations of mRNA stability did not contribute to the observed changes in receptor number. We conclude that M(2) and M(3) receptor expression within the same cell undergoes differential agonist-induced regulation being accompanied by distinct regulation of G-protein expression leading to differential effects on signal transduction by other receptor systems.     

m2-toxin: A selective ligand for M2 muscarinic receptors.

Selective ligands are needed for distinguishing the functional roles of M2 receptors in tissues containing several muscarinic receptor subtypes. Because the venom of the green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps contains the most specific antagonists known for M1 and M4 receptors (m1-toxin and m4-toxin), it was screened for toxins that inhibit the binding of [(3)H]N-methylscopolamine ([(3)H]NMS) to cloned M2 receptors. Desalted venom had as much anti-M2 as anti-M4 activity. The most active anti-M2 toxin in the venom was isolated by gel filtration, cation-exchange chromatography, and reversed-phase HPLC, and called m2-toxin. Spectrometry yielded a mass of 7095 Da, and N-terminal sequencing of 53 amino acids showed RICHSQMSSQPPTTTFCRVNSCYRRTLRDPHDPRGT-IIVRGCGCPRMKPGTKL. This sequence is more homologous to antinicotinic than antimuscarinic toxins, but it lacks three almost invariant residues of antinicotinic toxins required for their activity. m2-Toxin fully blocked the binding of [(3)H]NMS and [(3)H]oxotremorine-M to M2 receptors with Hill coefficients near 1, and blocked 77% of the binding sites for 0.1 nM [(3)H]NMS in the rat brainstem (K(i) = 11 nM). Concentrations that fully blocked cloned M2 receptors had no effect on M4 receptors, but slightly increased [(3)H]NMS binding to M1 receptors, an allosteric effect. In accord with these results, light microscopic autoradiography of the rat brain showed that m2-toxin decreased [(3)H]NMS binding in regions rich in M2 receptors and increased binding in regions rich in M1 receptors. Thus m2-toxin is a novel M2-selective, short-chain neurotoxin that may prove useful for binding and functional studies.