Question

1. Mr. L. works with pesticides and is accidentally exposed to a nicotinic agonist.

1. What would a nicotinic agonist do?

2. Transmission of which neurons would be affected?

3. Describe the features associated with synaptic transmission from these neurons (Hint: a diagram may facilitate your answer)

4. Focusing on motor output only, on which cell types would the nicotinic agonist work?

5. What effect would it have on somatic motor output? Why?

6. Where would it act to affect ANS motor output?  

7. Which division(s) would be affected? Explain your answer.

8. Describe a treatment that could be given to counteract the effect of the pesticide and justify your treatment by indicating how it would improve function.

Answer 1

A)

From the given data, the person is exposed to a nicotinic agonist. This drug binds on the nAChRs (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) as a ligand in place of acetylcholine (ACh). Therefore, nicotinic agonist mimics the action of acetylcholine (ACh) and keeps the nAChRs in open state and further allows the movement of sodium, calcium and potassium ions in both central nervous system nerves and peripheral nerves at muscles. Therefore, it keeps the muscles at a relaxed state.

B)

The Cholinergic neurons of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system especially affects the hippocampal neurons.

C)

The events that occur at cholinergic receptor is as follows: