The pharmacology of the cholinoceptor in muscle preparations of Ascaris lumbricoides var. suum.

Abstract

1. The preparation of a muscle strip of Ascaris lumbricoides for the study of the effect of drugs in vitro is described.2. Stimulant drugs which are classified as nicotine-like in mammalian pharmacology increased the isometric tension of this preparation. These drugs were, in descending order of potency: dimethylphenylpiperazinium, nicotine, acetylcholine, carbachol, decamethonium and pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide.3. Muscarine-like drugs (oxotremorine, methacholine, pilocarpine) had no activity.4. Potassium and barium ions stimulated the tissue, while the anti-cholinesterases, dichlorvos and eserine, increased the resting tension of the preparation and potentiated the responses to acetylcholine.5. Adrenaline neither stimulated the tissue nor affected the responses to nicotine-like drugs.6. The relative potency of several blocking agents which antagonize the responses to nicotine-like drugs was assayed. These blocking agents were, in descending order of potency: mecamylamine, (+)-tubocurarine, hexamethonium, atropine and piperazine. Acetylcholine, dimethylphenylpiperazinium and pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide apparently act on a common receptor, for each blocking agent had a similar molar inhibitory concentration against these stimulants.7. It is concluded that the cholinoceptor in muscle preparations of Ascaris lumbricoides is pharmacologically similar to that of the mammalian autonomic ganglion.