Neuromuscular Junction in Myasthenia Gravis: Decreased Acetylcholine Receptors

The number of acetylcholine receptors was determined in the neuromuscular junctions of eight patients with typical myasthenia gravis and in five controls, by means of $^{125}$I-labeled α-bungarotoxin binding. The junctional acetylcholine receptors were reduced in the myasthenic muscles as compared w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1973-10, Vol.182 (4109), p.293-295
Main Authors: Fambrough, Douglas M., Drachman, Daniel B., Satyamurti, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Autoradiography
Binding Sites
Biopsies
Biopsy
Bungarotoxins - metabolism
Cholinergic receptors
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Control groups
Dosage
Electric Stimulation
Evoked Potentials
Female
Humans
Iodine Radioisotopes
Male
Medications
Middle Aged
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia Gravis - metabolism
Myasthenia Gravis - physiopathology
Neuromuscular Junction - metabolism
Neuromuscular Junction - physiopathology
Receptors
Receptors, Cholinergic
Synapses
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Summary:The number of acetylcholine receptors was determined in the neuromuscular junctions of eight patients with typical myasthenia gravis and in five controls, by means of $^{125}$I-labeled α-bungarotoxin binding. The junctional acetylcholine receptors were reduced in the myasthenic muscles as compared with the controls. This reduction in receptors may account for the defect in neuromuscular transmission in myasthenia gravis.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.182.4109.293