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Functioning muscarinic receptors on cholinergic pathways to Renshaw cells

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Drugs and Central Synaptic Transmission
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Abstract

It is a rather surprising observation that the best established and first elucidated site of cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS), that from motor axon collaterals to Renshaw cells in the spinal cord, seems to use mainly nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors whereas the effects of ACh elsewhere are chiefly of the muscarinic type. Muscarinic receptors, however, have been revealed on Renshaw cells (Curtis and Ryall, 1966a; 1966b; 1966c) both by the use of agonists, such as muscarine and acetyl-β-methyl choline, and by the use of the specific muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine. The muscarinic receptors were seen to contribute to a small, late discharge evoked by an antidromic volley, but the physiological significance of this response was doubted.

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References

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Ryall, R.W. (1976). Functioning muscarinic receptors on cholinergic pathways to Renshaw cells. In: Bradley, P.B., Dhawan, B.N. (eds) Drugs and Central Synaptic Transmission. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01247-3_8

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