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Acetylcholine

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Definition

Acetylcholine is a naturally occurring monoamine neurotransmitter found in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. It is the primary transmitter for the autonomic nervous system and the somatic efferent nerves that innervate skeletal muscle. It was first discovered in 1914 by Sir Henry Dale and colleagues. Acetylcholine is synthesized inside the terminal endings of cholinergic nerve cells where choline is taken up into the nerve terminal and reacts with acetyl coenzyme A via the enzyme choline acetyltransferase.

Description

Once acetylcholine is synthesized, it is stored in vesicles until the nerve is stimulated by calcium entry into the nerve terminal. Stimulation causes the vesicles to release acetylcholine into the synapses between the pre- and postsynaptic nerve fibers. Acetylcholine crosses the synapse and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic cell, exerting its effect. It causes increased permeability of the cell to the cations sodium, potassium, and calcium,...

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References and Readings

  • Brunton, L. L., Chabner, B. A., & Knollmann, B. C. (2010). Goodman and Gilman’s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics (12th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.

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  • Rang, H. P., Dale, M. M., Ritter, J. M., & Flower, R. J. (2007). Rang and Dale’s pharmacology (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.

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  • Trevor, A. J., Katzung, B. G., & Masters, S. B. (2010). Pharmacology: Examination and board review (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, 20 North Pine Street, Room S445, 21201, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nicole Brandt PharmD

  2. University of Maryland, 125 E. Clement St., 21230, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Rachel Flurie PharmD

Authors
  1. Nicole Brandt PharmD
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  2. Rachel Flurie PharmD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Brandt PharmD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc D. Gellman

  2. Cardiovascular Safety, Quintiles, Durham, NC, USA

    J. Rick Turner

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York

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Brandt, N., Flurie, R. (2013). Acetylcholine. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1351

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1351

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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