ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NICOTINIC RECEPTORS OF ANEURALLY GROWN HUMAN MYOTUBES

It seems necessary to characterize electrophysiological properties of human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) to obtain reference va lues for the study of diseased muscles. We therefore investigated nACh Rs in aneurally grown human myotubes using the patch-damp technique. P ulses of acetylcholine (ACh) were applied to outside-out patches with a fast application system. The peak and the rise time of the current e licited by pulses of various concentrations of ACh were evaluated. The results were interpreted using the circular reaction scheme developed recently for the nAChR of embryonic mouse muscle. In addition, the bu rst duration and the slope conductance of the ACh activated channel we re evaluated.