RT Book, Section
A1 Taylor, Palmer
A2 Brunton, Laurence L.
A2 Chabner, Bruce A.
A2 Knollmann, Björn C.
SR Print(0)
ID 1127865480
T1 Anticholinesterase Agents
T2 Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12e
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071624428
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1127865480
RD 2023/02/05
AB The  function  of  acetylcholinesterase  (AChE)  in  terminating  the  action  of  acetylcholine  (ACh)  at  the  junctions  of  the  various  cholinergic  nerve  endings  with  their  effector  organs  or  postsynaptic  sites  is  considered  in  Chapter  8.  Drugs  that  inhibit  AChE  are  called  anticholinesterase  (anti-ChE)  agents.  They  cause  ACh  to  accumulate  in  the  vicinity  of  cholinergic  nerve  terminals  and  thus  are  potentially  capable  of  producing  effects  equivalent  to  excessive  stimulation  of  cholinergic  receptors  throughout  the  central  and  peripheral  nervous  systems.  In  view  of  the  widespread  distribution  of  cholinergic  neurons  across  animal  species,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  anti-ChE  agents  have  received  extensive  application  as  toxic  agents,  in  the  form  of  agricultural  insecticides,  pesticides,  and  potential  chemical  warfare  "nerve  gases."  Nevertheless,  several  compounds  of  this  class  are  widely  used  therapeutically;  others  that  cross  the  blood-brain  barrier  have  been  approved  or  are  in  clinical  trials  for  the  treatment  of  Alzheimer's  disease.