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 2022/05/28 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.