Introduction Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are divided into two groups according to the type of neuron involved in their mechanism of action.
The cholinergic drugswhereas act on receptors that are activated acetylcholine (ACh), the adrenergic drugs act onby receptors stimulated by norepinephrine or epinephrine. Cholinergic and adrenergic drugs both act by either stimulating or blocking receptors of the ANS.
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Acetylcholine is a widespread chemotransmitter mediating a broad range of physiological effects. in the body, The two classes of receptor for acetylcholine are defined on the basis of their preferential activation by the alkaloids nicotine and muscarine.
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Cholinergic drugs (acetylcholine receptor agonists) mimic acetylcholine at all sites, although the balance of nicotinic and muscarinic effects is variable. Cholinergic drugs mimic the activity of the parasympath parasympathetic etic nervous system (PNS). They also are called parasympathomimetic drugs. An understanding of the PNS is useful in understanding the cholinergic drugs. Acetylcholine antagonists that block the nicotine-like effects (neuromuscular blockers and autonomic ganglion blockers) are described elsewher elsewhere. e. Acetylcholine antagonists that block the muscarine-like effects, e.g. atropine, are often imprecisely called anticholinergics. The more specific term 'antimuscarinic' is preferred here.
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Cholinergic drugs: drugs: Classification Sites of action Pharmacology Choline ester esterss Alkaloids with cholinergic cholin ergic effects effects Anticholinesterases; organophosphate poisoning Disorders of neuromuscular transmission: myasthenia gravis Drugs that oppose acetylcholine action: Antimuscarinic drugs
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CHOLINERGIC DRUGS (CHOLINOMIMETIC (CHOLINOMIMETICS) S) These drugs act on postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (cholinoceptors) at all sites in the body
where acetylcholi acetylcholine ne is the effective n.transmitter n.transmitter.. They initially stimulate and usually later block transmission. In addition, like like acetylcholine, they act on the non-innervated receptors that relax peripheral blood vessels.
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Uses of cholinergic drugs 1-For myasthenia gravis, both to diagnose (edrophonium) and to treat symptoms (neostigmine, pyridostigmine, distigmine). 2-To lower intraocular pressure in chronic simple glaucoma (pilocarpine). 3-To 3-T o bronchodilate bronchodil ate patients with airflow airflo w obstruction (ipratropium, oxitropium). 4-To 4-T o improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's Alzheim er's disease diseas e (rivastigmine, donepezil).
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CLASSIFICATION 1- Direct-acting (receptor agonists) A- Choline esters (bethanechol, carbachol), which act at all sites, like acetylcholine, but are resistant to degradation degrada tion by acetylcholinesterases acetylcholinesterases (AChE; see Fig.). Muscarinic effects much more prominent than
nicotinic. B- Alkaloids Alkaloids (pilocarpine, muscarine) act selectively on end-organs of postganglionic, postganglionic, cholinergic neurones. Effects are exclusively muscarinic.
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2- Indirect-acting
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Cholinesterase inhibitors, inhibitors, or anticholinesterases
(physostigmine, neostigmine, pyridostigmine, distigmine, galantamine, rivastigmine, donepezil), block acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine, allowing endogenous acetylcholine to persist and produce intensified effects. •
Summary of cholinergic cholinergic agonists
SITES OF ACTION: •
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Autonomic nervous system . Neuromuscular junction . Central nervous system (CNS). Non-innervated sites: blood vessels, chiefly Non-innervated arterioles
Cartoon showing the diff different erent origins for acetylcholine (ACh) activating nicotinic (N) versus muscarinic (M) cholinergic receptors
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PHARMACOLOGY Autonomic nervous system system There are two distinct classes of receptor for acetylcholine, defined on the basis of their preferential activation by the alkaloids nicotine
(from tobacco) and muscarine (from a toxic mushroom, Amanita muscaria). Noted that the actions of acetylcholine and substances acting like it at autonomic ganglia and the neuromuscular junction mimic the stimulant effects of nicotine (hence nicotinic). In contrast, the actions at postganglionic cholinergic endings (parasympathetic endings plus the cholinergic sympathetic nerves to the sweat glands) and non-innervated receptors on blood vessels resembled the alkaloid, muscarine (hence muscarinic).
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Parasympathetic division Parasympathetic di vision Stimulation of cholinoceptors in autonomic
ganglia andfollowing at postganglionic affects chiefly the org organs: ans: endings affects •
Eye Ey e: Miosis and spasm of the ciliary muscle
occur so that the eye is accommodated for near vision. Intraocular Intraocular pressure falls so it it’’s use in the treatment of glaucoma.(figure)
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Exocrine glands: there is increased secre secretion tion most noticeably from salivary, lachrymal, bronchial and sweat glands. The last are cholinergic, but anatomically part of the sympathetic system; some sweat glands, e.g. axillary, may be adrenergic. Heart Heart: : bradycardia occurs with atrioventricular block, and eventually cardiac arrest. Bronchi: there is bronchoconstriction and mucosal hypersecretion that may be clinically serious in asthmatic subjects, in whom cholinergic drugs should be avoided if possible. Gut: motor activity is increased and may cause colicky pain. Exocrine secretion is also increased. Tone in sphincters falls which may cause defaecation (anal sphincter) or acid reflux/regurgitation (oesophageal sphincter). Urinary bladder and ureters contract and the drugs promote Urinary micturition
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Sympathetic division Only the ganglia are stimulated and cholinergic nerves to the adrenal medulla. These effects are overshadowed by effects on the parasympathetic system and are usually seen only if atropine has been given to block the latter, when tachycardia, tachyc ardia, vasoconstriction and a nd hypertension occur. occur. Neuromuscular (voluntary) junction
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The junction has cholinergic nerve and neuromuscular so is activated when anticholinesterases allow endings acetylcholine to persist, causing muscle fasciculation. Prolonged activation leads to a secondary depolarizing neuromuscular block.
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Central nervous system There is usually stimulation followed by depression but considerable variation between drugs is observed, possibly due to differences in CNS penetration.
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In overdose, mental excitement occurs, with confusion and restlessness, insomnia (with nightmares during sleep), tremors and dysarthria, and sometimes even convulsions and coma. Nicotinic receptor activation in the CNS is also thought to be important for cognitive processing, which appears to be impaired in schizophrenic subjects.
Blood vessels vessels
There is stimulation of cholinergic nerve endingsmediated in addition to the nonmore important dilating action on vasodilator arterioles and capillaries through innervated muscarinic receptors. Activation of these receptors stimulates nitric oxide production from the vascular endothelium that relaxes the underlying smooth muscle.
CHOLINE ESTERS Acetylcholine
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As acetylecholine has such importance in the body it is not surprising that attempts have been made to use it therapeutically. Acetylecholine was first injected intravenously as athat therapeutic convulsant in 1939, in the reasonable expectation the fits would be less liable to cause fractures than those following therapeutic leptazol convulsions. Recovery rates of up to 80% were claimed in various psychotic conditions. Enthusiasm began to wane(decrease), however, when it was shown that the fits were due to anoxia resulting from cardiac arrest and not to pharmacological effects on the brain.
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Other choline esters : Carbachol Is not destroyed by cholinesterase; its actions are most pronounced on the bladder and gastrointestinal tract, so that the drug was used
to stimulate these e.g. after surgery. These uses are noworgans, virtually obsolete, e.g. catheterisation is preferred for bladder bl adder atony atony.. It is occasionally applie applied d topically (3% solution) to the eye as a miotic. Bethanechol Resembles carbachol in its actions but is some 10-fold less potent (it differs by a single β -methyl group) and has no significant nicotinic effects at clinical doses.