Immunologic similarities between the hypothalamic alpha-bungarotoxin receptor and the Torpedo californica nicotinic cholinergic receptor.

The solubilized rat central nervous system (hypothalamic) nicotinic cholinergic receptor and the Torpedo nicotinic cholinergic receptors are immunologically similar and show greater than 60% immunologic cross-reactivity using a double-antibody technique. Antibodies to the Electrophorus and Torpedo receptors also decrease the rate of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to these membraneous receptors. It is concluded that the Torpedo and hypothalamic nicotinic receptors are immunologically similar and that receptor binding sites for alpha-bungarotoxin and antibodies are physically close. These studies indicate that alpha-bungarotoxin can be used to study the nicotinic cholinergic receptor of the rat hypothalamus.