[beta-Adrenergic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in human lung parenchyma in malignant neoplasms].

beta-Adrenergic and muscarine acetylcholinergic receptors were studied in human lung parenchyma obtained from patients with tuberculoma (after segmental resection of tuberculoma surrounding normal tissues were performed to obtain control samples) as well as from patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Assays of binding of beta-adrenergic radioligand 3H-dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA) exhibited high affinity in lung parenchyma membranes in both control samples and in that of patients with tumors. Binding of muscarine antagonist 3H-quinuclidinyl benzylate (3H-QNB) also showed high rate of affinity in lung parenchyma. High number of 3H-DHA binding sites was distinctly decreased and 3H-QNB--was increased in lung malignant tumors as compared with normal tissue. Considerable decrease of beta-adrenergic and increase of muscarine receptors were found in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. beta-Adrenergic and muscarine receptors appear to be of importance in pathogenesis of human lung malignant tumors.