Acetylcholine

What is acetylcholine?

• Acetylcholine (ACh) is a principal neurotransmitter in the somatic nervous system

• Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system

What role does acetylcholine play in the autonomic nervous system?

Major neurotransmitter:

• all pre- and post- ganglionic parasympathetic neurones

• all preganglionic sympathetic neurons

• postganglionic sympathetic fibres (sudomotor neurons to sweat glands)

What breaks down acetylcholine?

Acetylcholinesterase

In what conditions are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors useful?

• In conditions like myasthenia gravis where there are insufficient functioning acetylcholine receptors

Where is acetylcholine synthesised?

• In the CNS, in the basal nucleus of Meynert located in basal forebrain

In what disease are there decreased levels of acetylcholine in the basal nucleus of Meynert?

Decreased levels of acetylcholine in the basal nucleus of Meynert are seen in Alzheimer’s disease

What functions is acetylcholine important for?

• learning

• memory

Where is basal nucleus of Meynert located?

• in basal forebrain

• rich in cholinergic neurons which project widely throughout cerebral cortex

  • essential for cognitive functions like learning, memory and attention