Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes: physiological roles

National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases

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Abstract

Ongoing studies focus on the roles of the different muscarinic receptor subtypes in the regulation of key metabolic functions, with particular focus on glucose and energy homeostasis. Such functions include the release of incretins from enteroendocrine cells and the secretion of insulin and glucagon from pancreatic beta- and alpha-cells, respectively. We are also studying the potential regulation of food intake and body weight by muscarinic receptors expressed in distinct neurons of the hypothalamus. We are currently generating cell type-specific mutant mice to elucidate the physiological and pathophysiological roles of distinct muscarinic receptors expressed by these metabolically critical cell types. The outcome of these studies may pave the way toward the development of novel muscarinic drugs that may prove useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.