Cholinomimetic agents have a number of potential indications in an ageing population. This case series emphasises the need to exercise caution while prescribing cholinergic drugs in elderly patients with asthma, particularly in patients with a history of virus-induced exacerbations and airway eosinophilia.

background: alzheimer’s disease (ad) is characterized by progressive neuronal loss in hippocamp. epidermal neural crest stem cells (epi-ncsc) can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transplanting epi-ncsc into ad rat model. methods: two weeks after induction of ad by injection of amyloid-β 1-40 into ca1 area of ra...

Different toxic compounds can target the cholinergic nervous system. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) is one of the most crucial components of the cholinergic nervous system and thus many of the toxins interact with this enzyme. As to inhibitors, nerve agents used as chemical warfare, some insecticides, and drugs influencing the cholinergic system are common examples of AChE inhibitors. ...

Although bile acids damage gastric mucosa, the mechanisms underlying tissue injury induced by these agents are not well understood. To determine whether bile acids alter gastric secretory function, we investigated the actions of sodium cholate, deoxycholate, lithocholate, and their taurine and glycine conjugates on a highly homogeneous population of gastric chief cells. Lithocholyltaurine (LCT)...

In the first two of this series of papers, a sensitive microculture procedure was used to show that rat sympathetic neurons grown singly on small islands of heart cells release norepinephrine (NE) and/or acetylcholine (ACh). We report here the release of a third transmitter in response to stimulation of these neurons. This agent was recognized by its effect on the cocultured cardiac myocytes: a...

Experiments were done to evaluate the effect of the cholinergic vasodilator system on the flow-pressure relation in the isolated, perfused gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the cat. Reflex changes in the muscle vascular resistance were produced by maintaining the isolated, perfused carotid sinus at different pressure levels. Flow-pressure curves were obtained from the isolated muscles at high...

Cholinergic neurons of the mesopontine nuclei are strongly implicated in behavioral state regulation. One population of neurons in the cholinergic zone of the laterodorsal tegmentum and the pedunculopontine nuclei, referred to as rapid eye movement (REM)-on neurons, shows preferential discharge activity during REM sleep, and extensive data indicate a key role in production of this state. Anothe...

The midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) is involved in organizing behavioural responses to threat, stress and pain. These PAG functions are modulated by cholinergic agents. In the present study, we examined the cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission in the PAG using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from rat midbrain slices. We found that the cholinergic agonist carbachol reduced the ...

Alterations in neuronal Ca(2+) homeostasis are important determinants of age-related cognitive impairment. We examined the Ca(2+) influx, buffering, and electrophysiology of basal forebrain neurons in adult, middle-aged, and aged male F344 behaviorally assessed rats. Middle-aged and aged rats were characterized as cognitively impaired or unimpaired by water maze performance relative to young co...