The aging of cholinergic synapsis: Ontogenesis of cholinergic receptors

This paper summarizes current status of knowledge regarding the development of cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic binding sites in animal and human brains. The development of labelled tubocurarine (tritium-TC) and alfabungarotoxin (tritium-Btx) binding sites are shown in different areas ofmouse brain. Data are presented on muscarine-like binding sites obtained in the hippocampus of the fetus, infant (4 hours - 3 years of age), and adult brain (17 - 96 years of age). The number of labelled tritium-QNB binding sites in the fetus and adult are shown. The constants for high and low affinity binding sites are presented which are comparable to those obtained in adult hippocampus