Astrocytes have both M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes.

In astrocytes, carbachol evoked the turnover of membrane inositol phospholipids prelabelled with [3H]inositol, as revealed by [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation in the presence of 5 mM lithium. This effect was blocked by atropine and by pirenzepine (IC50 2.2 nM and 56 nM, respectively). Carbachol partially attenuated the isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production in astrocytes by a direct effect on adenylate cyclase, an effect blocked by atropine and pirenzepine. These results suggest that astrocytes express muscarinic receptor subtypes.