Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (Lecture 7)
Acetylcholine (ACh) Mechanism of Action
1. **How ACh Acts as a Neurotransmitter:** - **Synthesis:** ACh is synthesized from acetate and coenzyme A (CoA) in the presence of water. - **Storage:** ACh is stored in vesicles within the presynaptic neuron....
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (Lecture 7)
Acetylcholine (ACh) Mechanism of Action
1. **How ACh Acts as a Neurotransmitter:**
- **Synthesis:** ACh is synthesized from acetate and coenzyme A (CoA) in the presence of water.
- **Storage:** ACh is stored in vesicles within the presynaptic neuron.
- **Release:** ACh is released into the synaptic cleft upon presynaptic neuron stimulation.
- **Receptor Activation:** ACh binds to either nicotinic or muscarinic receptors on the postsynaptic
cell, depending on the cell type.
- **Metabolic Inactivation:** ACh is quickly inactivated by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) into inactive
substances (acetate and choline).
2. **Identifying Postsynaptic Receptors:**
- The type of cholinergic receptor (nicotinic or muscarinic) depends on the target cell. Nicotinic
receptors are typically present in skeletal muscle and autonomic ganglia, whereas muscarinic receptors
are found in smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular tissues.
3. **ACh Synthesis and Breakdown:**
- **Synthesis Reaction:** Acetate + CoA + H₂O → ACh
- **Breakdown Reaction:** ACh + AChE → Acetate + Choline
- Both acetate and choline are metabolic breakdown products and are not active neurotransmitters.
### Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (AChEIs)
1. **General Concepts:**
- ACh is the active neurotransmitter.
- AChE metabolizes ACh, terminating its action.
- Inhibiting AChE results in increased levels of ACh in the synapse, leading to prolonged activation of
nicotinic and muscarinic receptors.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller bestscores1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.19. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
