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Related Concept Videos

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions01:30

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

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Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, also known as anticholinesterases, exert their pharmacological effects by enhancing cholinergic transmission in various body parts, including the neuromuscular junction, autonomic cholinergic synapses, and the brain.
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
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Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:23

Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission

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Cholinergic neurotransmission involves the synthesis and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in order to transmit nerve impulses across the synapse. The process begins with the synthesis of acetyl CoA, a precursor for ACh, from ATP, acetate, and coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Choline, another vital precursor, is transported inside the neuron through choline transporters, including high-affinity choline transporter CHT1, low-affinity choline transporter CTL1, and lower-affinity choline...
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Parasympathetic Signaling01:30

Parasympathetic Signaling

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Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
The effects of...
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Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

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The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+....
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Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions00:59

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

2.5K
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...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

12.3K
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells
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Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells

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Cholinergic System and Neuroinflammation: Implication in Multiple Sclerosis.

Maria Di Bari1,2, Giovanni Di Pinto1,2, Marcella Reale3

  • 1Department of Biology and Biotechnologies C. Darwin, Research Center of Neurobiology Daniel Bovet, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.

Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
|August 24, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves nervous system inflammation and dysfunction. Alterations in acetylcholine (ACh) signaling may contribute to MS pathology, suggesting ACh-based therapies could be beneficial.

Keywords:
Acetylcholinecholinergic markersinflammationmultiple sclerosismuscarinic receptorsnicotinic receptors

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Determining Immune System Suppression versus CNS Protection for Pharmacological Interventions in Autoimmune Demyelination
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Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Pathway Linking Obesity to Autoimmune Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CNS inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease.
  • Inflammation and autoimmunity are key factors in MS pathogenesis.
  • Acetylcholine (ACh) modulates central and peripheral inflammation via cholinergic receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the correlation between nervous system dysfunction in MS, inflammation, and cholinergic system alterations.
  • To explore the role of ACh in MS.
  • To discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting the cholinergic system in MS.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evidence from MS animal models.
  • Analysis of biological fluids (blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid) from MS patients.
  • Examination of cholinergic receptor functions (muscarinic and nicotinic).

Main Results:

  • Cholinergic alterations may contribute to dysregulated inflammatory processes in MS.
  • ACh signaling influences pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production.
  • Evidence suggests a link between nervous system dysfunction and cholinergic changes in MS.

Conclusions:

  • Cholinergic system alterations are correlated with nervous system dysfunction in MS.
  • Cholinesterase inhibitors or ACh mimetics may offer novel therapeutic avenues for MS.
  • Further research into ACh's role in MS is warranted.