MUSCARINIC AGONISTS Meaning and
Definition
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Muscarinic agonists are drugs or substances that activate muscarinic receptors in the body. Muscarinic receptors are a type of acetylcholine receptor found on the surface of cells in various organs and tissues, particularly in the parasympathetic nervous system. Activation of these receptors leads to the physiological effects mediated by the parasympathetic system.
When muscarinic agonists bind to muscarinic receptors, they mimic the action of acetylcholine, the endogenous neurotransmitter that normally activates these receptors. This binding triggers a cascade of intracellular events, eventually resulting in the physiological responses associated with the parasympathetic system activation.
The effects of muscarinic agonists depend on the specific organ or tissue where the receptor is activated. Some common effects include increased salivation, constriction of the bronchi in the lungs, increased contraction and motility in the gastrointestinal tract, and stimulation of the bladder muscles, leading to urination. Other effects include decreased heart rate, constriction of the pupils, and stimulation of glandular secretions.
Muscarinic agonists have various therapeutic applications in medicine. For example, they can be used to treat conditions such as dry mouth, urinary retention, and certain eye disorders. They can also be employed in the management of certain gastrointestinal disorders and in glaucoma treatment. Additionally, muscarinic agonists have been used for research purposes to study the pharmacology and function of muscarinic receptors.
Common Misspellings for MUSCARINIC AGONISTS
- nuscarinic agonists
- kuscarinic agonists
- juscarinic agonists
- myscarinic agonists
- mhscarinic agonists
- mjscarinic agonists
- miscarinic agonists
- m8scarinic agonists
- m7scarinic agonists
- muacarinic agonists
- muzcarinic agonists
- muxcarinic agonists
- mudcarinic agonists
- muecarinic agonists
- muwcarinic agonists
- musxarinic agonists
- musvarinic agonists
- musfarinic agonists
- musdarinic agonists
- musczrinic agonists
Etymology of MUSCARINIC AGONISTS
The term "muscarinic agonists" can be broken down into two parts: "muscarinic" and "agonists".
1. "Muscarinic": The word "muscarinic" is derived from the Latin word "musca", which means "fly". This term can be traced back to an experiment conducted by the German physiologist Otto Loewi in 1921. Loewi was studying the parasympathetic nerve stimulation and observed that the heart rate in a frog decreased when a chemical substance, later identified as acetylcholine, was released. He named this mystery chemical "Vagusstoff" due to its connection with the vagus nerve. Later, it was discovered that the effects of acetylcholine on the heart resembled those produced by chemicals extracted from a fly species called Amanita muscaria.
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