F. Dörje, T. Friebe, Reinhold Tacke, E. Mutschler, G. Lambrecht

• The present study was designed to further characterize the muscarinic receptors mediating contraction of the guinea-pig uterus. The affinities of various selective muscarinic antagonists were determined and compared with those obtained at M\(_1\) (rabbit vas deferens), M\(_2\) (guinea-pig atria) and M\(_3\) receptors (guinea-pig ileum). The contractile responses of uterine smooth muscle from immature guinea-pigs to carbachol (pD\(_2\) = 5.73) were competitively antagonized by pirenzepine (pA\(_2\) = 7.04), AF-DX 116The present study was designed to further characterize the muscarinic receptors mediating contraction of the guinea-pig uterus. The affinities of various selective muscarinic antagonists were determined and compared with those obtained at M\(_1\) (rabbit vas deferens), M\(_2\) (guinea-pig atria) and M\(_3\) receptors (guinea-pig ileum). The contractile responses of uterine smooth muscle from immature guinea-pigs to carbachol (pD\(_2\) = 5.73) were competitively antagonized by pirenzepine (pA\(_2\) = 7.04), AF-DX 116 (11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl] acetyl]- 5,11-dihydro-6H -pyrido[2,3-b][1 ,4]benzo. diazepin-6-one) (pA\(_2\) = 6.96), himbacine (pA\(_2\) = 7.92), methoctramine (pA\(_2\) = 7.52), 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy- N-methylpiperidine methiodide) (pA\(_2\) = 8.87) and sila-hexocyclium (pA\(_2\) = 8.81). A comparison of affinity values indicates that the muscarinic receptors present in guinea-pig uterus display a novel pharmacological profile which is not consistent with the presence of either an M\(_1\), M\(_2\) or M\(_3\) receptor. The affinities determined for the different antagonists rather showed a close similarity to those obtained at muscarinic receptors present in rat striatum and NG108-15 cells which are considered pharmacological equivalents (M\(_4\) receptors) of the m4 gene product. We thus hypothesize that the guinea-pig isolated uterus preparation may serve as a simple functional assay system to study the pharmacology of M\(_4\) receptors.…