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AAT Bioquest

What does acetylcholine (Ach) do when it binds to muscarinic receptors?

Posted March 27, 2024


Answer

When acetylcholine binds to muscarinic receptors it: 

  • Facilitates the contraction of muscles that control near vision
  • Regulates heart contractions and lowers heart rate
  • Regulates blood pressure
  • Causes various glands to secretes substances such as milk, saliva, digestive juices, tears, and sweat
  • Increases stomach and intestine secretions and contracts intestinal muscles, which facilitates the movement of food through the intestine 
  • Causes an erection
  • Controls the release of urine
  • Muscarinic receptors play a role in long-term and working memory as well as memory formation, retrieval, and consolidation.
Additional resources

Physiology, Muscarinic Receptor

Amplite® Fluorimetric Acetylcholine Assay Kit *Red Fluorescence*

Enzymes