Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

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

Pharmacological actions of some cyclic analogues of choline

B A Hemsworth, S M Shreeve, G B Veitch

    British Journal of Pharmacology
    |April 1, 1984
    PubMed

    More Related Videos

    Probing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices via Laser Flash Photolysis of Photoactivatable Nicotine10:48

    Probing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices via Laser Flash Photolysis of Photoactivatable Nicotine

    Published on: January 25, 2019

    Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells14:39

    Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells

    Published on: April 28, 2026

    Related Concept Videos

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:22

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

    Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
    The direct-acting...
    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics01:31

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

    Direct-acting cholinergic agonists, such as synthetic choline esters and naturally occurring alkaloids, exert their effects by enhancing the actions of acetylcholine and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Synthetic choline esters share structural similarities with acetylcholine. For example, they have a positively charged quaternary ammonium or onium group, contributing to their hydrophilic characteristics. As a result, they are poorly absorbed in the body through oral...
    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...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:29

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

    Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists are agents that interact with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the synaptic cleft, preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine into choline and acetate. Consequently, the concentration of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft increases. These agonists can be classified into reversible and irreversible inhibitors based on their duration of action.
    Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action01:18

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action

    Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists work by interacting with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the synaptic cleft. They can be reversible or irreversible inhibitors and have different effects on the enzyme.
    Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex, leading to...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions01:30

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

    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...