Muscarinic receptors modulating acetylcholine release from insect synaptosomes

1. Cholinergic synapses in the central nervous system of insects contain inhibitory muscarinic receptors whose stimulation by agonists leads to a diminished output of acetylcholine; antagonists, like atropine, facilitate acetylcholine release. 2. The receptors involved appear to be of the M2-subtype. Upon activation of presynaptic receptors a significant reduction of the intrasynaptosomal cyclic AMP level as well as a significantly increased membrane potential was observed. 3. The observed membrane hyperpolarization is apparently not a consequence of a lower cyclic AMP level, thus both effects may offer alternative or synergistical mechanisms for modulating transmitter release.