Muscarinic-receptor stimulation enhances polyphosphoinositide breakdown in guinea-pig ileum smooth muscle

Muscarinic-receptor stimulation by 0.1 mM-carbachol in longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum increases the incorporation of [3H]inositol into inositol-containing phospholipid. This effect was blocked by 16 microM-atropine. After 60 min incubation, carbachol increased the accumulation of total inositol phosphates 20-fold in the presence of 10 mM-Li+. Less than 20% of the total inositol phosphate corresponded to inositol 1-phosphate by ion-exchange chromatography, whereas of the remainder about two-thirds corresponded to inositol bisphosphate and one third to inositol trisphosphate. It is concluded that stimulation of muscarinic receptors in guinea-pig ileum enhances breakdown of polyphosphoinositides, suggesting that this may be a primary event associated with Ca2+ mobilization in the guinea-pig ileum.