Frontiers in Pharmacology (May 2011)

Beneficial effects of anisodamine in shock involved nicotinic anti-inflammatory pathway

  • Ting eZhao,
  • Dong-Jie eLi,
  • Chong eLiu,
  • Ding-Feng eSu,
  • Fu-Ming eShen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2011.00023
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2

Abstract

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Anisodamine, an antagonist of muscarinic receptor, has been used therapeutically to improve blood flow in circulatory disorders such as septic shock in China since 1965. The main mechanism of anisodamine for anti-shock proposed in Pharmacology for Chinese medical students is to improve blood flow in the microcirculation. Here, we suggest a new mechanism for its anti-shock effect. That is, anisodamine, by blocking muscarinic receptor, results in rerouting of acetylcholine to alpha7nAChR bringing about increased acetylcholine-mediated activation of alpha7nAChR and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

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