Cholinergic agonist-induced down regulation of neuronal alpha-bungarotoxin receptors

The ability of cholinergic ligands to regulate neuronal alpha-bungarotoxin receptor number was studied in dissociated monolayer cultures of embryonic chick ciliary ganglion neurons. Carbamylcholine and nicotine, but not D-tubocurarine, caused a loss of 25% of the surface [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin receptors within 1 h at 37 degrees C. This receptor loss occurred without change in affinity for [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin, was temperature-sensitive and was prevented by co-incubation with D-tubocurarine.