Studies of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine action on the guanylate cyclase-guanosine 3'5' monophosphate system of isolated colonic epithelial cells

M3 muscarinic receptors on rat colonocytes are coupled to particulate guanylate cyclase activation

The ability of muscarinic receptor antagonists to compete with (-)-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding was compared with their ability to block carbachol-mediated stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase activity in rat colonocytes. The binding of [3H]QNB to membranes was inhibited by antagonists with the following rank order of potencies (inhibitory constants, nM): atropine (2.5) approximately 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine iodide (4-DAMP) [4.6] >> pirenzepine (121) > methoctramine (385). 4-DAMP (IC50 = approximately 10 nM) was also more potent in blocking carbachol-induced stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity than either pirenzepine (IC50 = approximately 700 nM) or methoctramine (IC50 = approximately 1500 nM).