Cholinergic

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Cholinergic means related to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine,[1] and is typically used in a neurological perspective. The parasympathetic nervous system is 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 acetylocholine is released from post ganglionic sympathetic neurons.

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.

Cholinergic drug

A cholinergic drug, also known as a cholinergic agent, cholinergic agonist,[3] or a parasympathomimetic drug,[4] 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 and cholinergic enzymes:

See also

References

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es:Colinérgico ru:Холинергические рецепторы
  1. "Definition: cholinergic from Online Medical Dictionary". 
  2. "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:cholinergic receptors". 
  3. MeSH Cholinergic+Agonists
  4. "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:cholinergic".