Acetylcholine: Difference between revisions

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'''Acetylcholine''' is an organic cation that acts as a [[neurotransmitter]] in many organisms, including humans.

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.

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==

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An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter. [[Muscarine]], an alkaloid found in a variety of mushrooms including [[Amanita muscaria|''Amanita muscaria'']], acts as a direct agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. [[Nicotine]], an alkaloid found in [[Nicotiana tabacum|''Nicotiana tabacum'']], acts as a direct agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 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]]. More potent agents include [[donepezil]] and [[galantamine]], both of which are used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These work by blocking acetylcholinesterase, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time. These medications are non-competitive, reversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. [[Nerve agent|Nerve agents]] like [[sarin]] irreversibly inhibit the enzyme, allowing a potentially lethal accumulation of acetylcholine to occur.

Other substances like [[racetam]]s can preserve acetylcholine regulation in instances of cognitive impairment such as [[deliriant]] intoxication or cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury.

Other substances like [[racetam|racetams]] can preserve acetylcholine regulation in instances of cognitive impairment such as [[deliriant]] intoxication or cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury.

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

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

An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[diphenhydramine]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic receptors, as does the chemical incapacitating agent 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate, better known as BZ.

An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[diphenhydramine]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, as does the chemical incapacitating agent 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate, better known as BZ.

==See also==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Acetylcholine''' is an organic cation that acts as a [[neurotransmitter]] in many organisms, including humans.
 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.
+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==
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 An acetylcholine receptor [[agonist]] works by increasing the level of receptor activation, either directly or indirectly. Direct agonists work by imitating the neurotransmitter. [[Muscarine]], an alkaloid found in a variety of mushrooms including [[Amanita muscaria|''Amanita muscaria'']], acts as a direct agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. [[Nicotine]], an alkaloid found in [[Nicotiana tabacum|''Nicotiana tabacum'']], acts as a direct agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 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]]. More potent agents include [[donepezil]] and [[galantamine]], both of which are used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These work by blocking acetylcholinesterase, which is an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, leading to an increased build up over time. These medications are non-competitive, reversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. [[Nerve agent|Nerve agents]] like [[sarin]] irreversibly inhibit the enzyme, allowing a potentially lethal accumulation of acetylcholine to occur.
-Other substances like [[racetam]]s can preserve acetylcholine regulation in instances of cognitive impairment such as [[deliriant]] intoxication or cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury.
+Other substances like [[racetam|racetams]] can preserve acetylcholine regulation in instances of cognitive impairment such as [[deliriant]] intoxication or cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury.
 ====[[Precursors]]====
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ====[[Antagonists]]====
-An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[diphenhydramine]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic receptors, as does the chemical incapacitating agent 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate, better known as BZ.
+An acetylcholine receptor [[antagonist]] works by attaching to acetylcholine receptors to prevent agonists binding. The [[deliriant]] drugs [[atropine]], [[scopolamine]] and [[diphenhydramine]] all act as antagonists upon muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, as does the chemical incapacitating agent 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate, better known as BZ.
 ==See also==