M2 Muscarinic Receptor

The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M₂, also known as the cholinergic receptor, muscarinic 2, is a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor that in humans is encoded by the ''CHRM2'' gene. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene.

Function

Heart

The M₂ muscarinic receptors are located in the heart, where they act to slow the heart rate down to normal sinus rhythm after negative stimulatory actions of the parasympathetic nervous system, by slowing the speed of depolarization. They also reduce contractile forces of the atrial cardiac muscle, and reduce conduction velocity of the atrioventricular node (AV node). However, they have little effect on the contractile forces of the ventricular muscle, slightly decreasing force.

IQ

A Dutch family study "a highly significant association" between the ''CHRM2'' gene and intelligence as measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. A similar association was found independently in the ''Minnesota Twin and Family Study''.

However, a larger 2009 study attempting to replicate this claim instead found no significant association between the ''CHRM2'' gene and intelligence.

Olfactory behavior

Mediating olfactory guided behaviors (e.g. odor discrimination, aggression, mating).

Mechanism of action

M₂ muscarinic receptors act via a G_i type receptor, which causes a decrease in cAMP in the cell, generally leading to inhibitory-type effects. They appear to serve as autoreceptors.

In addition, they modulate G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channels. In the heart, this contributes to a decreased heart rate. They do so by the G_βγ subunit of the G protein; G_βγ shifts the open probability of K⁺ channels in the membrane of the cardiac pacemaker cells, which causes an outward current of potassium, effectively hyperpolarizing the membrane, which slows down the heart rate.

Ligands

Few highly selective M₂ agonists are available at present, although there are several non-selective muscarinic agonists that stimulate M₂, and a number of selective M₂ antagonists are available.

Agonists

* (2S,2'R,3'S,5'R)-1-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl)pyrrolidine 3-sulfoxide methyl iodide (selective for M₂ but only partial agonist)
* Berberine
* Iper-8-Naph (alias N-8-Iper, bitopic/dualsteric agonist)
* Methacholine
* PAI ( photoswitchable agonist)

Antagonists

* AFDX-384
* Atropine
*Chlorpromazine
*Dicycloverine
*Dimenhydrinate
* Dimethindene
*Diphenhydramine
*Gallamine
* Hyoscyamine
*Ipratropium
*Methoctramine
* Otenzepad
*Oxybutynin
*Thorazine
*Tolterodine
*Trimipramine

See also

* Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor M2
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors