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Model Cholinergic Systems: An Overview

  • Chapter
The Cholinergic Synapse

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 86))

Abstract

Progress in biology is frequently dependent upon and stimulated by the intensive study of particular instances of a more general phenomenon. Such instances are often referred to as experimental model systems. Their usefulness is dependent on such attributes as accessibility, homogeneity and availability in quantity. Our understanding of cholinergic function, in particular, has benefitted from the study of model systems. In this chapter several model cholinergic synapses will be described that have been found particularly useful and will often be mentioned again in later chapters of this book. All have considerable potential for future work. Four of them - the electromotor synapse, the myenteric plexus, the ciliary ganglion and the diaphragm - are peripheral synapses and two are closely related in that the electromotor synapse is a modified neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The two others are central nervous system preparations relatively rich in cholinergic synapses. Of course, many other preparations, such as the perfused heart and the salivary gland might have been included and will also be referred to in later chapters.

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  1. V. P. Whittaker
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  1. Arbeitsgruppe Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Postfach 2841, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Victor P. Whittaker

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Whittaker, V.P. (1988). Model Cholinergic Systems: An Overview. In: Whittaker, V.P. (eds) The Cholinergic Synapse. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 86. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73220-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73220-1_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73222-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73220-1

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