MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS AND INSULIN CONCENTRATION IN THE RAT PANCREAS AFTER CHRONIC ALCOHOL INTAKE AND CHOLINERGIC STIMULATION

The effects of chronic alcohol intake and carbachol stimulation on pan creatic muscarinic receptor binding and insulin concentrations were st udied in the rat pancreas. There was a strong correlation between the number of muscarinic receptors and the concentration of insulin in the pancreas. The concentration of insulin decreased in the pancreas afte r long-term ethanol exposure and increased after carbachol stimulation . These results indicate that the secretion of insulin is mediated via the muscarinic receptor pathway, and that the changes in the number o f muscarinic receptors may have a role in insulin deficiency after lon g-term alcohol consumption.