Acetylcholine: Difference between revisions

(5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)

Line 3:

Acetylcholine is also the principal neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia.

In cardiac tissue, acetylcholine neurotransmission has an inhibitory effect, which lowers heart rate. However, acetylcholine also behaves as an excitatory neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscle.

==Chemistry==

It is an ester of acetic acid and [[choline]]. The molecule is a polyatomic cation, meaning that it is a positive ion comprising of more than one atom. It contains the quaternary ammonium cation.

It is an ester of acetic acid and [[choline]]. The molecule is a polyatomic cation, meaning that it is a positive ion comprising of more than one atom. It contains the quaternary ammonium cation. Acetylcholine does not penetrate lipid membranes, this is because of the charged ammonium group which gives the substance a highly polar molecule. As a consequence of this, if the substance is introduced externally it won't penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it will then remain in the extracellular space waiting to get broken down in the body and excreted.

==The cholinergic system==

Acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Acetylcholine is also one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and is the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system (sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses).

Acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Acetylcholine is also one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and is the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system (sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses). It functions as both a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator. The cholinergic areas of the brain have distinct critical functions which some of them are; attention, memory (long- and short term), motivation, and arousal.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors=((Kapalka, G. M.)) | date= 2010 | chapter=Nutritional and Herbal Therapies for Children and Adolescents | title=Substances Involved in Neurotransmission | publisher=Elsevier | pages=71–99 | url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780123749277000042 | doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374927-7.00004-2 | isbn=9780123749277}}</ref>

===Drugs targeting the cholinergic system===

Line 17:

Line 18:

====[[Precursors]]====

~~Precursors~~ such as [[choline]], [[citicoline]] ~~and~~ [[alpha-GPC]] ~~are~~ direct building ~~blocks~~ for acetylcholine ~~and supplementing~~ them may allow it to accumulate at higher levels than that which it otherwise would.<ref>Zeisel, S. H., ~~& Da~~ Costa, K. A. ~~(2009~~). Choline: An essential nutrient for public health~~. Nutrition Reviews,~~ 67(11), 615–623. https://doi.~~org~~/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x</ref>

Supplements such as [[choline bitartrate]], [[citicoline]], [[alpha-GPC]], and [[phosphatidylcholine]] provide choline, the direct building block for acetylcholine. Supplementing them may allow ACh to accumulate at higher levels than that which it otherwise would. Choline is an essential dietary nutrient; for food sources and recommended intake levels, see {{Wikipedia|choline}}.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=((Zeisel, S. H.)), ((Costa, K.-A. da)) | journal=Nutrition Reviews | title=Choline: an essential nutrient for public health | volume=67 | issue=11 | pages=615–623 | date= November 2009 | url=https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x | issn=00296643 | doi=10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x}}</ref>

====[[Antagonists]]====

Line 37:

Line 38:

==References==

[[Category:~~Neurotransmitters~~]]

[[Category:Neurotransmitter]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Acetylcholine is also the principal neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia.
 In cardiac tissue, acetylcholine neurotransmission has an inhibitory effect, which lowers heart rate. However, acetylcholine also behaves as an excitatory neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscle.
 ==Chemistry==
-It is an ester of acetic acid and [[choline]]. The molecule is a polyatomic cation, meaning that it is a positive ion comprising of more than one atom. It contains the quaternary ammonium cation.
+It is an ester of acetic acid and [[choline]]. The molecule is a polyatomic cation, meaning that it is a positive ion comprising of more than one atom. It contains the quaternary ammonium cation. Acetylcholine does not penetrate lipid membranes, this is because of the charged ammonium group which gives the substance a highly polar molecule. As a consequence of this, if the substance is introduced externally it won't penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it will then remain in the extracellular space waiting to get broken down in the body and excreted.
 ==The cholinergic system==
-Acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Acetylcholine is also one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and is the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system (sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses).
+Acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Acetylcholine is also one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and is the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system (sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses). It functions as both a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator. The cholinergic areas of the brain have distinct critical functions which some of them are; attention, memory (long- and short term), motivation, and arousal.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors=((Kapalka, G. M.)) | date= 2010 | chapter=Nutritional and Herbal Therapies for Children and Adolescents | title=Substances Involved in Neurotransmission | publisher=Elsevier | pages=71–99 | url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9780123749277000042 | doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374927-7.00004-2 | isbn=9780123749277}}</ref>
 ===Drugs targeting the cholinergic system===
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 ====[[Precursors]]====
-Precursors such as [[choline]], [[citicoline]] and [[alpha-GPC]] are direct building blocks for acetylcholine and supplementing them may allow it to accumulate at higher levels than that which it otherwise would.<ref>Zeisel, S. H., & Da Costa, K. A. (2009). Choline: An essential nutrient for public health. Nutrition Reviews, 67(11), 615–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x</ref>
+Supplements such as [[choline bitartrate]], [[citicoline]], [[alpha-GPC]], and [[phosphatidylcholine]] provide choline, the direct building block for acetylcholine. Supplementing them may allow ACh to accumulate at higher levels than that which it otherwise would. Choline is an essential dietary nutrient; for food sources and recommended intake levels, see {{Wikipedia|choline}}.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=((Zeisel, S. H.)), ((Costa, K.-A. da)) | journal=Nutrition Reviews | title=Choline: an essential nutrient for public health | volume=67 | issue=11 | pages=615–623 | date= November 2009 | url=https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x | issn=00296643 | doi=10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x}}</ref>
 ====[[Antagonists]]====
@@ Line 37: / Line 38: @@
 ==References==
 {{references}}
-[[Category:Neurotransmitters]]
+[[Category:Neurotransmitter]]
+{{#set:Featured=true}}