Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

In vitro Measurements of Tracheal Constriction Using Mice
Published on: June 25, 2012
Arachidonic acid increases cholinergic secretory responsiveness of ferret tracheal glands
R K McBride1, K K Stone, M G Marin
1Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642-8692.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine if arachidonic acid could alter ferret tracheal gland secretory responsiveness to a cholinergic agonist. We prepared glandular explants and incubated the explants in medium containing [3H]glucosamine. Secretory responsiveness was expressed as the percent change in basal secretion of acid-precipitable [3H]glucosamine-labeled glycoconjugates induced by the addition of agonist with and without arachidonic acid [mean +/- SE (n)]. Addition of 10(-3) M arachidonic acid caused a significant increase in secretion [28 +/- 6% (n = 6)] compared with untreated control tissues [-10 +/- 4% (n = 7), P less than or equal to 0.05]. Carbachol (10(-7) M) increased secretion 39 +/- 9% (n = 7). The combination of 10(-3) M arachidonic acid and 10(-7) M carbachol elicited a significantly greater change in secretion compared with either agent alone [173 +/- 50% (n = 5)]. The addition of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10(-6) M) or indomethacin (10(-6) M) partially attenuated the arachidonic acid-enhanced secretory responsiveness to carbachol. Treatment with both blockers completely inhibited the arachidonic acid-enhanced secretory responsiveness to carbachol. The effect of arachidonic acid on cholinergic stimulation was also abolished by treating the explant cultures with tetrodotoxin (10(-7) M). This hypersecretory state is most likely mediated by eicosanoid-induced release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals.
Related Concept Videos
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
Parasympathetic Signaling
The effects of...

