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Related Concept Videos

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants01:23

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants


Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers01:28

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers

Ganglionic blockers inhibit autonomic activity by blocking nicotinic receptors in the autonomic ganglia, suppressing impulse transmission. These blockers lack selectivity between sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia and are ineffective as neuromuscular junction antagonists. They can be categorized into two groups:
Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic

Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions00:59

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists exert their pharmacological actions by mimicking the effects of acetylcholine on postsynaptic muscarinic receptors to generate parasympathetic responses. These agents elicit a range of physiological responses, including cardiovascular effects. For example, activation of muscarinic receptors induces bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, reduced peripheral resistance, and consequent hypotension. In the eye, stimulation of M3 receptors leads to smooth muscle...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake01:21

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:29

Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

Cholinergic antagonists bind to cholinergic receptors and limit the effects of acetylcholine and other cholinergic agonists. Based on the specific cholinergic receptor affinity, these antagonists are classified as muscarinic or nicotinic. Anticholinergics interrupt parasympathetic innervations while sympathetic innervations remain uninterrupted. Muscarinic antagonists are also called 'muscarinic antagonists', 'antimuscarinics', or 'parasympatholytics'. Nicotinic antagonists are called...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents
09:43

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

Published on: August 10, 2014

Nicotinic antagonist effects on functional attention networks.

Renate Thienel1, Bianca Voss, Thilo Kellermann

  • 1Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Australia. renate.thienel@newcastle.edu.au

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
|September 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Mecamylamine, a nicotinic antagonist, impaired attention network task performance in healthy males. It slowed response times and reduced brain activity in networks for orienting and executive control.

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Touchscreen Sustained Attention Task (SAT) for Rats
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A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
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A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development

Published on: February 11, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents
09:43

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

Published on: August 10, 2014

Touchscreen Sustained Attention Task (SAT) for Rats
09:31

Touchscreen Sustained Attention Task (SAT) for Rats

Published on: September 15, 2017

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
07:02

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development

Published on: February 11, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cholinergic neurotransmission plays a key role in cognitive functions like memory and attention.
  • Nicotinic receptors are crucial for modulating attention processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of mecamylamine, a non-competitive nicotinic antagonist, on the three core components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive control.
  • To examine the neural correlates of these attention components using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Main Methods:

  • A single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study involving 12 healthy male subjects.
  • Participants performed the Attention Network Task (ANT) after receiving either 15 mg of mecamylamine or a placebo.
  • fMRI data was acquired to analyze brain activation patterns associated with attention components.

Main Results:

  • Mecamylamine significantly slowed overall response times compared to placebo.
  • Brain imaging revealed that mecamylamine down-regulated activation in neural networks associated with orienting and, to a lesser extent, executive control.
  • Distinct neural networks were identified for alerting (left temporal lobe), orienting (bilateral prefrontal, right precuneus, left caudate), and executive control (anterior cingulate, precuneus).

Conclusions:

  • Nicotinic mechanisms modulate orienting attention and executive control during tasks involving conflict.
  • The observed effects of mecamylamine suggest a role for cholinergic pathways, potentially interacting with dopamine neurotransmission, in attention regulation.