1.0 2010-04-08 22:06:20 UTC 2025-11-18 22:57:03 UTC FDB004643 Acetylcholine Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine in vertebrates is the major transmitter at neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, parasympathetic effector junctions, a subset of sympathetic effector junctions, and at many sites in the central nervous system. Its physiological and pharmacological effects, metabolism, release, and receptors have been well documented in several species. ACh has been considered an important excitatory neurotransmitter in the carotid body (CB). Various nicotinic and muscarinic ACh receptors are present in both afferent nerve endings and glomus cells. Therefore, ACh can depolarize or hyperpolarize the cell membrane depending on the available receptor type in the vicinity. Binding of ACh to its receptor can create a wide variety of cellular responses including opening cation channels (nicotinic ACh receptor activation), releasing Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites (via muscarinic ACh receptors), and modulating activities of K+ and Ca2+ channels. Interactions between ACh and other neurotransmitters (dopamine, adenosine, nitric oxide) have been known, and they may induce complicated responses. Cholinergic biology in the CB differs among species and even within the same species due to different genetic composition. Development and environment influence cholinergic biology. ; Pharmacological data clearly indicate that both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a role in the encoding of new memories. Localized lesions and antagonist infusions demonstrate the anatomical locus of these cholinergic effects, and computational modeling links the function of cholinergic modulation to specific cellular effects within these regions. Acetylcholine has been shown to increase the strength of afferent input relative to feedback, to contribute to theta rhythm oscillations, activate intrinsic mechanisms for persistent spiking, and increase the modification of synapses. These effects might enhance different types of encoding in different cortical structures. In particular, the effects in entorhinal and perirhinal cortex and hippocampus might be important for encoding new episodic memories.; The role of ACh in attention has been repeatedly demonstrated in several tasks. Acetylcholine is linked to response accuracy in voluntary and reflexive attention and also to response speed in reflexive attention. It is well known that those with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders tend to be inaccurate and slow to respond. (PMID: 17284361, 17011181, 15556286); Acetylcholine is an ester of acetic acid and choline with chemical formula CH3COOCH2CH2N+(CH3)3. This structure is reflected in the systematic name, 2-acetoxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium.; In the PNS, acetylcholine activates muscles, and is a major neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system.; In the peripheral nervous system, acetylcholine activates muscles, and is a major neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system. When acetylcholine binds to acetylcholine receptors on skeletal muscle fibers, it opens ligand gated sodium channels in the cell membrane. Sodium ions then enter the muscle cell, stimulating muscle contraction. Acetylcholine, while inducing contraction of skeletal muscles, instead inhibits contraction in cardiac muscle fibers. This distinction is attributed to differences in receptor structure between skeletal and cardiac fibers.; The chemical compound acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. Acetylcholine is one of many neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the somatic nervous system. (Sensory neurons use glutamate and various peptides at their synapses.) Acetylcholine is also the principal neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia. Acetylcholine is found in many foods, some of which are yellow bell pepper, coriander, anise, and cardamom. 60-31-1 (chloride) 66-23-9 (bromide) 927-86-6 (perchlorate) C7H16NO2 146.2074 146.118103761 [2-(acetyloxy)ethyl]trimethylazanium acetylcholine 51-84-3 CC(=O)OCC[N+](C)(C)C InChI=1S/C7H16NO2/c1-7(9)10-6-5-8(2,3)4/h5-6H2,1-4H3/q+1 OIPILFWXSMYKGL-UHFFFAOYSA-N belongs to the class of organic compounds known as acyl cholines. These are acylated derivatives of choline. Choline or 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium is a quaternary ammonium salt with the chemical formula (CH3)3N+(CH2)2OH. Acyl cholines Organic compounds Organic nitrogen compounds Organonitrogen compounds Quaternary ammonium salts Aliphatic acyclic compounds Amines Carbonyl compounds Carboxylic acid esters Hydrocarbon derivatives Monocarboxylic acids and derivatives Organic cations Organic oxides Organic salts Organopnictogen compounds Tetraalkylammonium salts Acyl choline Aliphatic acyclic compound Amine Carbonyl group Carboxylic acid derivative Carboxylic acid ester Hydrocarbon derivative Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives Organic cation Organic oxide Organic oxygen compound Organic salt Organooxygen compound Organopnictogen compound Tetraalkylammonium salt Acetylcholine a small molecule acetate ester acylcholine logp -2.91 ALOGPS logs -3.13 ALOGPS solubility 1.36e-01 g/l ALOGPS melting_point 148 oC logp -4.2 ChemAxon pka_strongest_basic -7 ChemAxon iupac [2-(acetyloxy)ethyl]trimethylazanium ChemAxon average_mass 146.2074 ChemAxon mono_mass 146.118103761 ChemAxon smiles CC(=O)OCC[N+](C)(C)C ChemAxon formula C7H16NO2 ChemAxon inchi InChI=1S/C7H16NO2/c1-7(9)10-6-5-8(2,3)4/h5-6H2,1-4H3/q+1 ChemAxon inchikey OIPILFWXSMYKGL-UHFFFAOYSA-N ChemAxon polar_surface_area 26.3 ChemAxon refractivity 51.35 ChemAxon polarizability 16.69 ChemAxon rotatable_bond_count 4 ChemAxon acceptor_count 1 ChemAxon donor_count 0 ChemAxon physiological_charge 1 ChemAxon formal_charge 1 ChemAxon Specdb::CMs 8247 Specdb::CMs 155982 Specdb::NmrTwoD 1042 Specdb::NmrTwoD 1530 Specdb::MsMs 1262 Specdb::MsMs 1263 Specdb::MsMs 1264 Specdb::MsMs 4805 Specdb::MsMs 4806 Specdb::MsMs 4807 Specdb::MsMs 4808 Specdb::MsMs 4809 Specdb::MsMs 4810 Specdb::MsMs 4811 Specdb::MsMs 445198 Specdb::MsMs 445621 Specdb::MsMs 445622 Specdb::MsMs 445623 Specdb::MsMs 445624 Specdb::MsMs 445625 Specdb::MsMs 447983 Specdb::MsMs 447984 Specdb::MsMs 451954 Specdb::NmrOneD 1589 Specdb::NmrOneD 145710 Specdb::NmrOneD 145711 Specdb::NmrOneD 145712 Specdb::NmrOneD 145713 Specdb::NmrOneD 145714 Specdb::NmrOneD 145715 Specdb::NmrOneD 145716 Specdb::NmrOneD 145717 Specdb::NmrOneD 145718 Specdb::NmrOneD 145719 Specdb::NmrOneD 145720 Specdb::NmrOneD 145721 Specdb::NmrOneD 145722 Specdb::NmrOneD 145723 Specdb::NmrOneD 145724 Specdb::NmrOneD 145725 Specdb::NmrOneD 145726 Specdb::NmrOneD 145727 Specdb::NmrOneD 145728 Specdb::NmrOneD 145729 HMDB0000895 Anatidae Type 1 specific Anatidae 8830 Anise Type 1 specific Pimpinella anisum 271192 Beefalo Type 1 specific Bos taurus X Bison bison 297284 Bison Type 1 specific Bison bison 9901 Buffalo Type 1 specific Bubalus bubalis 89462 Cardamom Type 1 specific Elettaria cardamomum 105181 Carrot Type 1 specific Daucus carota ssp. sativus 79200 Cattle (Beef, Veal) Type 1 specific Bos taurus 9913 Chicken Type 1 specific Gallus gallus 9031 Columbidae (Dove, Pigeon) Type 1 specific Columbidae 8930 Coriander Type 1 specific Coriandrum sativum 4047 Cumin Type 1 specific Cuminum cyminum 52462 Deer Type 1 specific Cervidae 9850 Domestic goat Type 1 specific Capra aegagrus hircus 9925 Domestic pig Type 1 specific Sus scrofa domestica 9825 Elk Type 1 specific Cervus canadensis 1574408 Emu Type 1 specific Dromaius novaehollandiae 8790 European rabbit Type 1 specific Oryctolagus 9984 Fennel Type 1 specific Foeniculum vulgare 48038 Fenugreek Type 1 specific Trigonella foenum-graecum 78534 Green bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 Greylag goose Type 1 specific Anser anser 8843 Guinea hen Type 1 specific Numida meleagris 8996 Horse Type 1 specific Equus caballus 9796 Jackfruit Type 1 specific Artocarpus heterophyllus 3489 Mallard duck Type 1 specific Anas platyrhynchos 8839 Mountain hare Type 1 specific Lepus timidus 62621 Mule deer Type 1 specific Odocoileus 9871 Orange bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 Ostrich Type 1 specific Struthio camelus 8801 Pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 Pepper (Spice) Type 1 specific Piper nigrum 13216 Pheasant Type 1 specific Phasianus colchicus 9054 Potato Type 1 specific Solanum tuberosum 4113 Quail Type 1 specific Phasianidae 9005 Rabbit Type 1 specific Leporidae 9979 Red bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 Rock ptarmigan Type 1 specific Lagopus muta 64668 Sheep (Mutton, Lamb) Type 1 specific Ovis aries 9940 Spinach Type 1 specific Spinacia oleracea 3562 Squab Type 1 specific Columba 8931 Turkey Type 1 specific Meleagris gallopavo 9103 Velvet duck Type 1 specific Melanitta fusca 371864 Wild boar Type 1 specific Sus scrofa 9823 Wild carrot Type 1 specific Daucus carota 4039 Yellow bell pepper Type 1 specific Capsicum annuum 4072 Allergenic 43 A chemical compound which causes the onset of an allergic reaction by interacting with any of the molecular pathways involved in an allergy. Anti diuretic 233 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti ileus 363 Anti-amblyopic 106 Any substance introduced into a living organism with therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. Anti-tachycardic 639 A drug used for the treatment or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. Anti-arrhythmia drugs may affect the polarisation-repolarisation phase of the action potential, its excitability or refractoriness, or impulse conduction or membrane responsiveness within cardiac fibres. Cardiodepressant 766 A drug used for the treatment or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. Anti-arrhythmia drugs may affect the polarisation-repolarisation phase of the action potential, its excitability or refractoriness, or impulse conduction or membrane responsiveness within cardiac fibres. Cerebrostimulant 788 Histaminic 992 Hormone 996 Originally referring to an endogenous compound that is formed in specialized organ or group of cells and carried to another organ or group of cells, in the same organism, upon which it has a specific regulatory function, the term is now commonly used to include non-endogenous, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic analogues of such compounds. Hypotensive 1021 Miotic 1106 Aa agent causing contraction of the pupil of the eye. Because the size of the pupil is under the antagonistic control of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, drugs affecting either system can cause miosis. Drugs that mimic or potentiate the parasympathetic input to the circular constrictor muscle and drugs that inhibit sympathetic input to the radial dilator muscle tend to contract the pupils. Myocontractant 1131 Myopic 1132 Myotonic 1136 Neurotransmitter 1161 An endogenous compound that is used to transmit information across the synapse between a neuron and another cell. Parasympathomimetic 1200 Peristaltic 1207 Sialogogue 1315 Spasmogenic 1320 Vasodilator 1413 A drug used to cause dilation of the blood vessels.