Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor

The Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor (pronunciation: mus-kah-rin-ic a-seh-til-ko-leen re-sep-tor), often abbreviated as mAChR, is a type of Acetylcholine receptor that is activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Etymology

The term "Muscarinic" is derived from muscarine, a toxin found in certain mushrooms. Muscarine was the first substance found to act on this type of acetylcholine receptor, hence the name.

Function

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors play several roles in the body, including regulation of heart rate, smooth muscle contraction, and the release of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. They are found in various tissues and organs, including the heart, lungs, and brain.

Types

There are five known types of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, labeled M1 through M5. Each type has a different distribution in the body and plays a unique role in the function of the nervous system.

• M1 - Found in the brain and gastric parietal cells.
• M2 - Found in the heart and smooth muscle.
• M3 - Found in smooth muscle, endothelium, and glands.
• M4 - Found in the brain.
• M5 - Found in the brain and peripheral tissues.

Related Terms

• Acetylcholine - The neurotransmitter that activates muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
• Neurotransmitter - Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.
• Receptor - A protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell.
• Muscarine - A toxin found in certain mushrooms that acts on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

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