Acetylcholine: Difference between revisions

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===Drugs targeting the cholinergic system===

*'''Agonists'''

An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter; an example of this is the stimulant drug nicotine. Indirect agonists most often work by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase; this enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, and therefore inhibition of it increases activation of cholinergic receptors. The stimulant drug caffeine is an indirect agonist, as is [[THC]]. These work by blocking Acetylcholine esterate, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time.

An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter; an example of this is the stimulant drug nicotine. Indirect agonists most often work by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase; this enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, and therefore inhibition of it increases activation of cholinergic receptors. The stimulant drug caffeine is an indirect agonist, as is [[THC]]. These work by blocking Acetylcholine esterate, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time. [[Muscarine]], an alkaloid found in a variety of mushrooms including [[Amanita muscaria|''Amanita muscaria'']], acts as a direct agonist of muscarinic acetylchloline receptors. [[Nicotine]], an alkaloid found in [[Nicotiana tabacum|''Nicotiana tabacum'']], acts as a direct agonist of nicotinic acetylchloline receptors.

*'''Antagonists'''

An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[DPH]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic receptors, as does the deadly neurotoxin BZ.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ===Drugs targeting the cholinergic system===
 *'''Agonists'''
-An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter; an example of this is the stimulant drug nicotine. Indirect agonists most often work by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase; this enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, and therefore inhibition of it increases activation of cholinergic receptors. The stimulant drug caffeine is an indirect agonist, as is [[THC]]. These work by blocking Acetylcholine esterate, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time.
+An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter; an example of this is the stimulant drug nicotine. Indirect agonists most often work by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase; this enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, and therefore inhibition of it increases activation of cholinergic receptors. The stimulant drug caffeine is an indirect agonist, as is [[THC]]. These work by blocking Acetylcholine esterate, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time. [[Muscarine]], an alkaloid found in a variety of mushrooms including [[Amanita muscaria|''Amanita muscaria'']], acts as a direct agonist of muscarinic acetylchloline receptors. [[Nicotine]], an alkaloid found in [[Nicotiana tabacum|''Nicotiana tabacum'']], acts as a direct agonist of nicotinic acetylchloline receptors.
 *'''Antagonists'''
 An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[DPH]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic receptors, as does the deadly neurotoxin BZ.