Acetylcholine

Question 1

General Info

Answer 1

Acetylcholine
• Cholinergic Neurons
• First neurotransmitter discovered
• Abundant in brain and periphery (more abundant than others)
• Abundant at neuromuscular junctions. Important for muscular contraction (Ach tells muscles to contract)
• Ach binds to receptors on motor end plate, causes contraction
• Paralysis occurs when Ach is blocked

Question 2

Alzheimer’s:

Answer 2

• Loss of cholinergic neurons in basal forebrain results in Alzheimer’s
• Ach important for learning, memory, attention

Question 3

Acetylcholine in Brain Stem:

Answer 3

• In pons and midbrain

* Involved in sleep/arousal

Question 4

Botulinum Toxin:

Answer 4

• Ach antagonist
• Anaerobic bacteria (thrives in oxygen free environment)
• Very deadly
• Prevents docking by breaking up snare proteins
• Results in paralysis of muscles, organs, causes death if it occurs in respiratory systems

Question 5

Blepharospasm:

Answer 5

• Can’t open eyes because eye muscles are hyperactive

* Use botox to treat

Question 6

Black Widow Spider Venom:

Answer 6

• Stimulates release of Ach
• Several bites needed to kill a healthy adult
• Causes muscle spasms

Question 7

Receptors:

Answer 7

•	Muscarinic receptor 
     o	Metabotropic
•	Nicotinic receptor
     o	Ionotropic
     o	Excitatory effect (Allow Na to enter cell)

Question 8

Atropine

Answer 8

• Extract of belladonna plant

* Competitive muscarinic Ach receptor antagonist (blocker)

Question 9

Scopolamine:

Answer 9

• Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist
• Used to model Alzheimer’s
• Used to look at behavioral roles of muscular receptors

Question 10

Scopolamine and Object Recognition Test:

Answer 10

• Sample-> Delay-> Drug injection-> Choice
• Drug injection-> Sample-> Delay -> Choice
• Discovered that cholinergic receptors are important for new learning not retrieval of old info

Question 11

Curare:

Answer 11

• Extract of certain woody vines in South America
• Nicotinic Ach receptor antagonist (competitive)
• Causes paralysis by preventing binding of Ach

Question 12

Nicotine

Answer 12

• Nicotine acts on nicotinic receptors in brain and enhance memory and attention
• Smoking can make you feel more alert, smoking is common with cognitive deficits (i.e. ADHD)