Cholinergic

Cholinergic
The N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium cation, with an undefined counteranion, X−
Acetylcholine

The word choline generally refers to the various quaternary ammonium salts containing the N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium cation. Found in most animal tissues, choline is a primary component of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and functions with inositol as a basic constituent of lecithin. It prevents fat deposits in the liver and facilitates the movement of fats into the cells. The richest sources of choline are liver, kidneys, brains, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and egg yolk. Therefore, cholinergic typically refers to acetylcholine in a neurological perspective.[1] The parasympathetic nervous system, which uses acetylcholine almost exclusively to send its messages, is said to be almost entirely cholinergic. Neuromuscular junctions, preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, the basal forebrain, and brain stem complexes are also cholinergic. In addition, the receptor for the merocrine sweat glands are also cholinergic since acetylcholine is released from post ganglionic sympathetic neurons.

In neuroscience and related fields, the term cholinergic is used in the following related contexts:

  • A substance (or ligand) is cholinergic if it is capable of producing, altering, or releasing acetylcholine ("indirect-acting") or mimicking its behaviour at one or more of the body's acetylcholine receptor types ("direct-acting").
  • A receptor is cholinergic if it uses acetylcholine as its neurotransmitter.[2]
  • A synapse is cholinergic if it uses acetylcholine as its neurotransmitter.

Contents

Cholinergic drug

Main article: Parasympathomimetic drug

Structure activity relationship for cholinergic drugs[3]

1. molecule must possess a nitrogen atom capable of bearing a positive charge, preferably a quaternary ammonium salt.

2. for maximum potency, the size of the alkyl groups substituted on the Nitrogen should not exceed the size of a methyl group.

3. The molecule should have an oxygen atom, preferably an ester-like oxygen capable of participating in a hydrogen bond.

4. There should be a two-carbon unit between the oxygen atom and the nitrogen atom.

A cholinergic drug, also known as a cholinergic agent, cholinergic agonist,[4] or a parasympathomimetic drug,[5] is any drug that functions to enhance the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, or both. These include acetylcholine's precursors and cofactors, acetylcholine receptor agonists,acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and cholinergic enzymes:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Definition: cholinergic from Online Medical Dictionary". http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?cholinergic. 
  2. ^ "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:cholinergic receptors". http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/seven/000091035.htm. 
  3. ^ Medicinal Chemistry of Adrenergics and Cholinergics
  4. ^ MeSH Cholinergic+Agonists
  5. ^ "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:cholinergic". http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/two/000020616.htm. 


v · d · eNeuromodulation
Types
Classes
see Enzyme inhibition
Calcium channel blocker (CCB) • Potassium channel blocker (PCB) • Sodium channel blocker (SCB) • Potassium channel opener (PCO)
Serotonin receptor agonist • Serotonin Receptor Antagonist (5-HT3) • Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) • Serotonin reuptake enhancer (SRE)
GABA receptor agonist • GABA receptor antagonist • GABA reuptake inhibitor (GRI)
Cholinergic
Cannabinoid receptor agonist • Cannabinoid receptor antagonist
Other
Adenosine reuptake inhibitor (AdoRI) • Angiotensin II receptor antagonist • Endothelin receptor antagonist • NK1 receptor antagonist • Vasopressin receptor antagonist
Miscellaneous
Cofactor (see Enzyme cofactors) • Precursor (see Amino acids)

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cholinergic — [kō΄lin ʉr′jik] adj. [< CHOLINE + Gr ergon, WORK + IC] 1. having the properties of acetylcholine 2. releasing or stimulated by acetylcholine …   English World dictionary

  • cholinergic — adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1934 1. liberating, activated by, or involving acetylcholine < cholinergic nerve fiber > < cholinergic functions > 2. resembling acetylcholine especially in physiologic action …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cholinergic — cho•lin•er•gic [[t]ˌkoʊ ləˈnɜr dʒɪk, ˌkɒl ə [/t]] adj. 1) biochem. pha resembling acetylcholine in physiological effect: a cholinergic drug[/ex] 2) biochem. releasing acetylcholine: a cholinergic neuron[/ex] 3) cbl activated by acetylcholine: a… …   From formal English to slang

  • cholinergic — Relating to nerve cells or fibers that employ acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter. Cf.:adrenergic. [choline + G. ergon, work] * * * cho·lin·er·gic .kō lə nər jik adj 1) of autonomic nerve fibers liberating, activated by, or involving… …   Medical dictionary

  • cholinergic — adj. 1) describing nerve fibres that release acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter. 2) describing receptors at which acetylcholine acts to pass on messages from cholinergic nerve fibres. 3) describing drugs that mimic the actions of acetylcholine… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • cholinergic — adjective releasing or activated by acetylcholine or a related compound • Ant: ↑anticholinergic * * * cholinergic, a. (kɒlɪˈnɜːdʒɪk) [f. cholinee + Gr. ἔργ ον work + ic.] Of the synapses or nerve fibres: liberating acetylcholine; also, stimulated …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cholinergic urticaria — Classification and external resources ICD 10 L50.5 …   Wikipedia

  • Cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, alpha 1 — (muscle) Rendering based on PDB 1Y5P …   Wikipedia

  • Cholinergic crisis — A cholinergic crisis is an over stimulation at a neuromuscular junction due to an excess of acetylcholine (ACh), as of a result of the inactivity (perhaps even inhibition) of the AChE enzyme, which normally breaks down acetylcholine. This is a… …   Wikipedia

  • Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway — The Cholinergic Anti inflammatory Pathway regulates the innate immune response (Innate immunity) to injury, pathogens, and tissue ischemia. It is the efferent, or motor arm of the Inflammatory Reflex, the neural circuit that responds to and… …   Wikipedia

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