Infection with the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta induces changes in acetylcholine metabolism and muscarinic receptor mRNA expression in the rat jejunum.

Article Details

Citation

Bikopoulos GJ, Hoque T, Webb RA

Infection with the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta induces changes in acetylcholine metabolism and muscarinic receptor mRNA expression in the rat jejunum.

Parasitol Res. 2006 Aug;99(3):231-7. Epub 2006 Mar 16.

PubMed ID
16541262 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Total and neuron-specific uptake of [3H] choline into smooth muscle/myenteric plexus (SM/MP) preparations from the jejunum of rats infected with five Hymenolepis diminuta for 30 days compared to uninfected rats was significantly increased, as was choline acetyltransferase activity and acetylcholine biosynthesis. Although acetylcholinesterase and total cholinesterase activity levels in SM/MP preparations from infected rats were not significantly different from uninfected animals, pseudocholinesterase activity was significantly elevated in infected rats. Infection resulted in a significant elevation in the relative expression of muscarinic 2 (M2) receptor mRNA in jejunum compared to uninfected rats. Conversely, in rats infected with 50 worms for 30 days, the relative expression of muscarinic 1 (M1) receptor mRNA in the jejunum was significantly depressed, while the expression of M2 receptor mRNA was not significantly different from that in five worm infections. The relative expression of muscarinic 3 receptor mRNA was unaffected by infection. The present study shows that infection of rats with low numbers of an enteric cestode leads to a significant modulation of the cholinergic components of the myenteric plexus and M2 receptor mRNA, and that large number of worms result in suppression in the relative expression of M1 receptor mRNA.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CholineCholine O-acetyltransferaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Choline salicylateCholine O-acetyltransferaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details