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Eaton-Lambert syndrome

Acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase in skeletal muscle

Department of Pharmacology t Dr. Molenaar). Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden. The Netherlands, the Department of Neurological Science (Dr. Newsom Davis and Ms. Vincent). Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom, and Medical Biological Laboratory T.N.O. (Dr. Polak), Rijswijk. The Netherlands.

In biopsied intercostal muscle from six patients with Eaton-Lambert syndrome, we measured acetylcholine content and release and choline acetyltransferase. Both the spontaneous and the KCl-evoked release of acetylcholine were abnormally low. On the other hand, the acetylcholine content and the level of choline acetyltransferase activity were within the range of values earlier found in healthy human intercostal muscle. These results are consistent with the view that the defect in this syndrome lies not in the synthesis or storage of the transmitter but in the mechanism of release itself.

Addresss correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Molenaar, Department of Pharmacology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Was-senaarseweg 72, 2333, AL Leiden, The Netherlands.

Financial support by FUNGO/ZWO and the Wellcome Trust (P.C.M. and R.L.P.) and the Medical Research Council (J.N.-D. and A.V.).

Accepted for publication January 29, 1982.