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Beneficial effects of anisodamine in shock involved cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
Ting Zhao1, Dong-Jie Li, Chong Liu
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Anisodamine, an antagonist of muscarinic receptor, has been used therapeutically to improve blood flow in circulatory disorders such as septic shock in China since 1965. The main mechanism of anisodamine for anti-shock proposed in Pharmacology for Chinese medical students is to improve blood flow in the microcirculation. Here, we suggest a new mechanism for its anti-shock effect. That is, anisodamine, by blocking muscarinic receptor, results in rerouting of acetylcholine to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) bringing about increased acetylcholine-mediated activation of α7nAChR and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
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