Effects of presynaptic muscarinic cholinoreceptor blockade on neuromuscular transmission as assessed by the train‐of‐four and the tetanic fade response to rocuronium

This study investigated the effect of muscarinic M(1) and M(2) receptor antagonists on the rocuronium‐induced train of four (TOF) fade and tetanic fade, respectively. Ex‐vivo phrenic nerves and diaphragms were obtained from adult Sprague‐Dawley rats and stabilized in Krebs buffer; the nerve‐stimulated muscle TOF fade was observed at 20 s intervals. For the TOF study, phrenic nerves and diaphragms were incubated with pirenzepine (an M(1) blocker) at concentrations of 0 nmol L(−1) (control), 10 nmol L(−1) (PZP10), or 100 nmol L(−1) (PZP100). Rocuronium was then administered incrementally until the first twitch tension had depressed by >95% during TOF stimulation. The mean TOF ratios were compared when the first twitch tensions were depressed by 40%‐50%. For the tetanic fade study, 50 Hz/5 s tetani was applied initially, 30 min after the administration of a loading dose of rocuronium and methoctramine (an M(2) receptor blocker, loaded at 0 μmol L(−1) [control], 1 μmol L(−1) [MET1], or 10 μmol L(−1) [MET10]). The EC (95) of rocuronium was significantly lower in the PZP10 group than in the control group. In the PZP10 group, the TOF ratios at 50% and first twitch tension depression were significantly lower than those in the control group (P=.02). During tetanic stimulation, the tetanic fade was significantly enhanced in the MET10 group compared to the other groups. This study shows that antagonists of muscarinic M(1) and M(2) receptors affect the rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block as demonstrated by the reduced EC (95) and TOF ratios (M(1) antagonist, pirenzepine) or the enhanced 50‐Hz tetanic fade (M(2) antagonist, methoctramine).