CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF ACETYLCHOLINE-RECEPTOR LIGANDS

Acetylcholine receptor ligands were studied for cytotoxicity in K562 h uman erythroid leukemia tumor cells. Cytotoxicity of carbachol, an ago nist of acetylcholine receptors, atropine, an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, neurotoxin II (NT II) from Naja naja oxiana c obra venom and tubocurarine, antagonists of acetylcholine receptor of nicotinic type was exhibited in the 10(-7)-10(-5) M concentration rang e. Several cytolytic processes, two for carbachol and three for other ligands, corresponding to different concentrations of each ligand were detected. All acetylcholine receptor ligands induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation.