Cholinergic mechanisms

Cholinergic mechanisms have long been studied with respect to memory and learning. An interesting study demonstrated that the age-related decline in memory observed in laboratory rodents can be reversed by administration of choline [62-49-7] (13). 

Hobson, JA (1992) Sleep and dreaming induction and mediation of REM sleep by cholinergic mechanism. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 2 759-763. 

Pycock, C. Milson, J. Firsay, D. and Marsden, C.D. The effect of manipulation of cholinergic mechanisms on turning behavior in mice with unilateral destruction of the nigro-neostriatal dopaminergic system. Neuropharmacoloav 17 175-183, 1978. 

Baghdoyan, H. A. (1997). Cholinergic mechanisms regulating REM sleep. In Sleep Science Integrating Basic Research and Clinical Practice, ed. W. J. Schwartz. Basle S. Karger Publishing. 

George, R., Haslett, W. L. Jenden, D. J. (1964). A cholinergic mechanism in the brainstem reticular formation induction of paradoxixal sleep. Int. J. 

Jouvet, M. (1975). Cholinergic mechanisms and sleep. In Cholinergic Mechanisms, ed. P. G. Waser. New York, NY Raven Press. 

Backman, S. B., Fiset, P. Plourde, G. (2004). Cholinergic mechanisms mediating anesthetic induced altered states of consciousness. Prog. Brain Res. 145, 197-206. 

Domino, E. F., Yamamoto, K. Dren, A. T. (1968). Role of cholinergic mechanisms in states of wakefulness and sleep. Prog. Brain. Res. 28, 113-33. 

Roshchina V.V. (2004). Plant cholinesterase activity as a biosensor cellular models. In Cholinergic Mechanisms. I. Silman, H. Soreq, L. Anglister, D.M. Michaelson and A. Fisher (eds). pp. 260-263. Martin Dunitz. London, UK. 

Martin, W. R., and Eades, C. G. (1967) Pharmacological studies of spinal cord adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms and their relation to physical dependence on morphine. Psycho-pharmacologia, 11 195-223. 

HT4 receptors are also present in the pig and human hearts, primarily located in the atrium [9]. Experiments showed that stimulation of these receptors can result in tachycardia and can trigger positive inotropic effects. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the 5-HT4 receptor is present in the human detrusor muscle and facilitates a cholinergic mechanism which may lead to increased bladder contractions [10]. Finally, acute (but not repeated) stimulation of 5-HT4 receptors present on the human adrenal cortex has been reported to trigger the release of corticosterone and aldosterone [11]. 

Given the role of acetylcholine receptors in analgesic circuits, it is not surprising that a number of plants with cholinergic mechanisms have analgesic effects. The RVM has muscarinic and nicotinic receptors (Cortes and Palacios 1986 London et al. 1985). The PAG has nicotinic receptors as well (Segal et al. 1978). 

Roussinov KS, Yonkov DI. (1976). Cholinergic mechanisms in the learning and memory facilitating effect of caffeine. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg. 2(3) 61-68. 

Zarrindast MR, Nami AB, Farzin D. (1996). Nicotine potentiates morphine antinociception a possible cholinergic mechanism. Eur Neuropsychopharmacoi. 6(2) 127-33. 

If dreaming is indeed stimulated by a mesocortical/mesolimbic DA mechanism, and not by the pontine cholinergic mechanism that triggers REM sleep, the question remains as to why dreaming and REM sleep should co-occur with such regularity ... 

Kojima T, Tsuda S, Shirasu Y. 1992. Non-cholinergic mechanisms underlying the acute lethal effects of P = S type organophosphorus insecticides in rats. J Vet Med Sci 54(3) 529-533. 

Soreq, H. Cholinergic Mechanisms - Tenth International Symposium, IDrugs 1998, 1, 787-793. 

Hartvig, P., Gillberg, P. G., Gordh, T., Post, C. Cholinergic mechanisms in pain and analgesia, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 1989, 10, suppl., 75-79. 

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