Pharmacology of organophosphates.

The cholinergic nerve fibers, which employ acetylcholine (ACh) as a neurohumoral transmitter, and the results of their activation are listed. The reactions between the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), its natural substrate, ACh, and the various types of inhibitors are described. The limited therapeutic uses of the anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) agents are considered.

The George B. Koelle symposium on the cholinergic synapse.

The George B. Koelle Symposium on the Cholinergic Synapse described the early development of the importance of ACh as a transmitter at both cholinergic synapses of the CNS, ganglion and neuromuscular junction. While a great deal is known about the function of cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction, the integrated role of cholinergic, nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the overall process of CNS functions, i.

Effects of glycyl-L-glutamine and methylprednisolone on maintenance of acetylcholinesterase of transected rat sciatic nerves.

Under anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital, the sciatic nerves of rats were transected bilaterally, and a catheter was inserted into the central end of the left renal artery. After an initial flush, an Alzet pump was attached to the catheter, containing various concentrations of glycyl-L-glutamine (Gly-Gln), methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MePred), or both. Rats were sacrificed at intervals of 2, 4, or 6 days; the peripheral portions of the sciatic nerves were excised, homogenized, and centrifuged, and the supernates were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AcChoEase; acetylcholine acetylhydrolase, EC 3.