muscarinic receptors


mus·ca·rin·ic re·cep·tors

membrane-bound proteins with an extracellular domain that contains a recognition site for acetylcholine (ACh); combination of Ach with the receptor initiates a physiologic change (slowing of heart rate, increased glandular secretory activity, and stimulation of smooth muscle contractions); changes are observed after treatment with the mushroom alkaloid muscarine. Muscarinic receptors are to be distinguished from nicotinic receptors.