Like some of the chemical weapons, biological weapons may also be useful as area denial weapons. These agents may be lethal or non-lethal, and may be targeted against a single individual, a group of people, or even an entire population.
Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger, a neurotransmitter, released by nerve cells in many parts of the peripheral nervous system. It controls the contraction of all skeletal or voluntary muscles, for instance. It also affects the contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle.
Acetylcholine is released from a presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft. Once in the synaptic gap, acetylcholine can: - Bind to presynaptic receptors: presynaptic activation or inhibition leads to automodulation of the presynaptic cholinergic neuron.- Be degradated by acetylcholinesterase: activity of this enzime on acetylcholine triggers its degradation into choline and acetyl coenzime A, thus terminating its effect. number of drugs target acetylcholine receptors, blockade of these receptors is associated with anticholinergic (parasympatholytic) effect, while stimulation causes activation of cholinergic (parasympathomimetic) effects. This articles overviews the key concepts on the pharmacology of acetylcholine receptors, such as: