Cholinergic Receptors and Their Major Pharmacological Effects
Cholinergic Receptors are those receptors which respond to the transmitter acetylcholine and are mostly parasympathetic. Here is a list of cholinergic receptors and their major pharmacological effects:
Eye
- M3 (Iris radial muscle) – Pupillary constriction
- M3 (Ciliary muscle) – Contraction for near vision
Heart
- M2 (Sinoatrial, atrioventricular nodes) – Decreased spontaneous depolarization
- M2 (His-Purkinje system) – Little effect
- M2 (Atria, ventricles) – Decreased contractility in atria
Blood vessels
- M3 (Arteries, arterioles) – Bronchoconstriction
- (Veins, venules) – Little effect
Lungs
- M3 (Tracheal, bronchial muscle) – Relaxation of smooth muscle
- M2, M3 (Bronchial glands) – Increased secretions
GI tract
- M2, M3 (Salivary glands) – Increased secretions
- M2, M3 (Stomach) – Increased motility and secretions
- M2, M3 (Intestines) – Increased motility
Urinary bladder
- M3 (Detrusor) – Contraction, decreased capacity
- M2 (Trigone, sphincter) – Relaxation
Sex organs
- M3 – Erection
Skeletal muscle
- NM – Muscle contraction
Pancreas
- M3, M2 – Increased digestive enzyme release
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