Autoradiographic identification of muscarinic receptors in human iris smooth muscle.

We have used the specific, irreversible muscarinic ligand [3H]-propylbenzilylcholine mustard to localize putative muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the smooth muscle tissue of the human iris. Analysis of autoradiograms from labeled irides reveals high grain densities over the iris sphincter muscle, consistent with the well-known pharmacology of this muscle. In addition, a smaller but significant population of muscarinic binding sites was seen in the iris dilator muscle as well. Grain densities in both muscles are substantially reduced in control tissue treated with relatively high concentrations of the muscarinic antagonists quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) and atropine. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of autoradiographic localization of putative muscarinic receptors in the human iris.