Ninth Symposium on Subtypes of Muscarinic Receptors

摘要

XThe First International Symposium on Subtypes of Muscarinic Receptors held in 1983, promulgated the novel concept that there was more than one subtype of muscarinic receptors (mAchR). Now The Ninth Symposium is the first meeting to describe the phenotypes of mice lacking each of the five muscarinic receptor genes. These knockout (KO) data are helping to provide the rationale for some novel therapeutic targets for selective muscarinic agents and are also furthering the understanding of complex functional consequences of mAchR activation. It has become possible with the availability of knockout mice to identify which subtypes are involved in motor function control and to develop selective antagonists for Parkinson's Disease lacking the limitations of older compounds. The role of M1 selective agonists in treating Alzheimer's Disease was discussed as well as the potential usefulness of M2 antagonists in treating the cognitive decline associated with this disease. Results with muscarinic compounds that act at M3 receptors suggest that selective compounds may have therapeutic efficacy in glaucoma and there is emerging evidence that an M4 agonist could be a reasonable target for the treatment of schizophrenia. The role of selective muscarinic agents in the treatment of (1) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; (2) acute attacks of asthma; (3) urinary incontinence and (4) GI motility were also discussed.