what is acetylcholine?

Answer 1

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter used in the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is broken into two groups: the autonomic system and the somatic system. Then, the autonomic system is broken down into two more groups: the sympathetic nervous system (associated with "fight or flight" responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system (associated with "rest and digest" responses). Acetylcholine is specifically released in pre- and post-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons and also in preganglionic sympathetic neurons (a ganglion is just a mass of nerves).

Answer 2

What Is Acetylcholine

Answer 3

I believe it is used as a very powerful skeletal muscle relaxant during surgery. Even under anesthetic some patients will twitch and move; which could be disastrous during some types of surgery. To prevent this the patient will be given acetylcholine chloride which paralyzes the major muscles and prevents movement. Because of this the patient is usually on a respirator during surgery, the medicine also paralyzes the muscles involved in breathing.

After the surgery is complete the patient is given a dose of what is called an "antagonist" to counteract the effects of the paralyzing drug and then is brought out from the general anesthesia.

Answer 4

The chemical compound acetylcholine, often abbreviated as ACh, was the first neurotransmitter to be identified. It is a chemical transmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. Acetylcholine is an example of a totally untraceable poison.[citation needed]
Chemistry

Acetylcholine is an ester of acetic acid and choline with chemical formula CH3COOCH2CH2N+(CH3)3. This structure is reflected in the systematic name, 2-(acetyloxy)-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium.

Acetylcholine (ACh) was first identified in 1914 by Henry Hallett Dale for its actions on heart tissue. It was confirmed as a neurotransmitter by Otto Loewi who initially gave it the name vagusstoff because it was released from the vagus nerve. Both received the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work.

Later work showed that when acetylcholine binds to acetylcholine receptors on striated muscle fibers, it opens channels in the membrane. Sodium ions then enter the muscle cell, stimulating muscle contraction. Acetylcholine is also used in the brain, where it tends to cause excitatory actions. The glands that receive impulses from the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system are also stimulated in the same way.

Acetylcholine is synthesized in certain neurons by the enzyme choline acetyltransferase from the compounds choline and acetyl-CoA. Organic mercurial compounds have a high affinity for sulfhydryl groups, which attributes to its effect on enzyme dysfunction of choline acetyl transferase. This inhibition may lead to acetylcholine deficiency, and can have consequences on motor function.

Normally, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase converts acetylcholine into the inactive metabolites choline and acetate. The devastating effects of nerve agents (in bioterrorism, Sarin gas for example) are due to their inhibition of this enzyme, resulting in continuous stimulation of the muscles, glands and central nervous system. Certain insecticides are effective because they inhibit this enzyme in insects. On the other hand, since a shortage of acetylcholine in the brain has been associated with Alzheimer's disease, some drugs that inhibit acetylcholinesterase are used in the treatment of that disease.

Answer 5

Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter. The channels it activates are mostly permeable to sodium and/or calcium. Both of these ions will enter the cell when the channels open and cause the membrane potential to be less negative (depolarize) and fire an action potential if the threshold is crossed. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. The channels it activates are permeable to chloride only. Chloride enters the cell through these channels and causes the membrane potential to be more negative (hyperpolarization). This puts the membrane potential further away from threshold and so the AP is less likely to result.

Answer 6

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what is acetylcholine?

Answer 7

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