To confirm that the protective effect
against PQ-induced apoptosis by carbachol
and oxotremorine-M was through
muscarinic receptor stimulation, a specific
muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine was
used to block muscarinic receptor
stimulation. The results showed that the apoptotic protective effect of carbachol and
oxotremorine-M against PQ was prevented
by atropine pretreatment as it caused
increases in levels of PARP proteolysis
when compared the levels in cotreatment of
PQ with carbachol or oxotremorine-M