Neuronal control of acetylcholine receptor turnover rate at a vertebrate neuromuscular junction.

The turnover rate of acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions in mice increases progressively after denervation and, after 15 days, reaches a half-time of 30 z 5 hours. Denervation thus causes the clustered junctional acetylcholine receptors to assume the rapid turnover characteristic of extrajunctional receptors before innervation.