Chemicals and Drugs

Cholinergic Receptors

Cell surface proteins that bind acetylcholine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Cholinergic receptors are divided into two major classes, muscarinic and nicotinic, based originally on their affinity for nicotine and muscarine. Each group is further subdivided based on pharmacology, location, mode of action, and/or molecular biology.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Cell surface proteins that bind acetylcholine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Cholinergic receptors are divided into two major classes, muscarinic and nicotinic, based originally on their affinity for nicotine and muscarine. Each group is further subdivided based on pharmacology, location, mode of action, and/or molecular biology.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

15 entry terms
  • ACh Receptor
  • ACh Receptors
  • Acetylcholine Receptor
  • Acetylcholine Receptors
  • Cholinergic Receptor
  • Cholinoceptive Sites
  • Cholinoceptor
  • Cholinoceptors
  • Receptors, ACh
  • Receptors, Acetylcholine
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Receptor, ACh
  • Receptor, Acetylcholine
  • Receptor, Cholinergic
  • Sites, Cholinoceptive

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

17 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, analysis, biosynthesis, blood, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, physiology, radiation effects, therapeutic use, ultrastructure.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/antag = NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING AGENTS or NEUROMUSCULAR DEPOLARIZING AGENTS; coord IM with specific cholinergic agent (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

74(71)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Receptors, Drug (1966-1970)
  • specific agonist, tissue, or organ affected (1966-1970)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 102.8

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cholinergic Receptors. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D011950. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D011950
  2. Cholinergic Receptors. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine_receptor
  3. Cholinergic Receptors. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q408520