Chapter 7, Problem 10RA

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The action of the drugs that inhibit acetylcholinesterase.

Introduction:

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter released at post synaptic clefts that helps in the conduction of a nerve impulse. Acetylcholinesterase inhibits the activity of this neurotransmitter by breaking it down into acetyl and choline, which re-enter the presynaptic cleft to make more acetylcholine. This restores the nerve conduction to the original state while passing on the impulse. However, in skeletal muscle disorders like Myasthenia gravis, there is a need to increase the amount of acetylcholine, which can be done by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine esterase.