Difference between nicotinic and cholinergic

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

ericdamiansean

High Profiler
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2003
Messages
1,191
Reaction score
4
Wat's the difference between them both?
I've looked almost everywhere, and I can't find a definite answer, thanks!

Ques: Know the locations and differences between muscarinic and nicotinic receptor sites.
 
cholinergic ? Don't you mean acetylcholinic ? Err, can't you find the answer in a biochemistry book ? 😕 I remember reading something about it in Harper's biochemistry.
 
Blake said:
cholinergic ? Don't you mean acetylcholinic ? Err, can't you find the answer in a biochemistry book ? 😕 I remember reading something about it in Harper's biochemistry.


Oh yeah, it's muscarinic and nicotinic, not muscarinic and cholinergic

The books just write the decription about them, tat's all
 
nicotinic cholinergic receptors located at A) all autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia (adrenal medulla included) and B) neuromuscular junctions

muscarinic cholinergic receptors located at postganglionic parasympathetic neuroeffector cells
 
Nicotinic are also ubber fast and ion channels. While Muscarinic are slower and g-protein. Muscarinic are also located on sweat glands of sypmathetic.
 
Also, a lot of drugs bind to these receptors. Obiously, nicotine and muscarine bind to these respective receptors.

As well, at the neuromuscular junction, antagonistic drugs like neostigmine and eserine bind to nicotinic receptors to alleviate symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis (by allowing ACh to stay longer in the synaptic cleft).

I'm not too sure, but I also think atropine acts as an antagonist at muscarinic receptors and is known to dilate the pupils of the eye. Hmm... (goes on a mission to find old Neurobio text) 😳
 
to reitterate...

nicotinic:
at all autonomic ganglia and neuromuscular junctions
pentameric sodium ion channels
fast

muscarinic:
at effector organs/post-gang synapse in parasympathetic
at sweat gland/post-gang synapse of sympathetic
monmeric, 7 trans-membrane domains
G-protein coupled
slower... but still pretty damn fast (we're talking autonomic nerve conduction)

a SLEW of drugs that act as agonists and antagonists on both nic. and musc., some sub-type selective some non-selective
atropine does in fact act as a nonselective muscarinic antagonist


I heart neuro... blah!
 
Thanks guys!!

Btw, do most of you get all the additional USMLE stuff? As in past year ques etc?
 
Top