Central nervous system cholinergic neurotransmission

Cholinergic neurotransmission ChEs terminate cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS), in NMJs and in the autonomic system (the parasympathetic system, somatic motor nerves and pre-ganglionic sympathetic nerves). A few sensory cells and the NMJ in nematodes also include ChEs. 

For almost one century, acetylcholine has been recognized as a neurotransmitter both in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, acetylcholine has been identified as the neurotransmitter of autonomic ganglia and the neuromuscular junction. Acetylcholine is involved in different peripheral functions such as heart rate, blood flow, gastrointestinal tract motility, and sweat production and smooth muscle activity. In the CNS, cholinergic neurotransmission plays a crucial role in a variety of CNS functions including sensory perception, motor function, cognitive processing, memory, arousal, attention, sleep, nociception, motivation, reward, mood, and psychosis. 

Nicotiana tabacum, and lobeline, present in the dried leaves and tops of the herb, Lobelia inflata (13). Both nicotine and lobeline act as agonists on a specific type of acetylcholine receptor, the nicotinic cholinergic receptor. In mammals, nicotinic cholinergic receptors mediate cholinergic neurotransmission in skeletal muscles, autonomic ganglia, and the central nervous system. At these sites nicotine s action has two phases, excitation and depression. Insect central nervous tissues are rich in nicotinic cholinergic receptors (cf. 14), but their role in behavior is not well understood. 

IIL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHOLINERGIC NEUROTRANSMISSION IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM... 

Other channel and receptor systems in neuronal tissues have been proposed to play a role in the generation of compound-specific clinical symptoms in mammals. The complex nature of the effects of pyrethroids on the central nervous system (CNS) has led various workers to suggest that they also act via modulation of nicotinic cholinergic transmission, reduce peripheral presynaptic adrenoceptor sensitivity [23] which leads to an enhancement of noradrenaline release [24], and affect the serotonin neurotransmission [25]. However, because neurotransmitter-specific pharmacological agents offer only poor or partial protection against poisoning, it is unlikely that any one of these effects represents an alternative primary mechanism of action of the pyrethroids. 

Abstract The CBi cannabinoid receptor is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system. Within the neuron, the CBi receptor is often localised in axon terminals, and its activation leads to inhibition of transmitter release. The consequence is inhibition of neurotransmission via a presynaptic mechanism. Inhibition of glutamatergic, GABAergic, glycinergic, cholinergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission has been observed in many regions... 

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