Muscarine Toxicity and Autonomic Nervous System Response – Identifying Receptor Binding and Symptom Analysis

Muscarine Toxicity and Autonomic Nervous System Response – Identifying Receptor Binding and Symptom Analysis

Looking at the signs and symptoms, I noticed that one of the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is highly upregulated. The signs and symptoms exhibited by the patients indicate that the parasympathetic nervous system is highly upregulated. This conclusion is based on specific symptoms such as miosis (pupillary constriction), bradycardia (slow heart rate), and increased glandular secretions (sweating, bronchorrhea). Miosis is a classic parasympathetic response due to the contraction of the iris sphincter muscles. Bradycardia is another sign of parasympathetic activity, as the vagus nerve’s stimulation slows the heart rate (Sghari et al., 2020). Additionally, increased glandular secretions, such as sweating and bronchorrhea, indicate stimulation of exocrine glands, which is typical of parasympathetic activity. These symptoms suggest a significant cholinergic response, aligning with parasympathetic overactivity.

Receptor and Neurotransmitter

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the ANS are the site of muscarine binding. Typically, these receptors bind to acetylcholine, which mediates parasympathetic effects such as heart rate regulation, smooth muscle contraction, and glandular secretion.

Explanation for Sweating

Sweating in three patients is explained by the ingestion of Amanita muscaria, which contains muscarine. Although sweating is typically a sympathetic response, it results here from the activation of muscarinic receptors in sweat glands. This cholinergic-induced sweating occurs because muscarinic receptors are also present in eccrine sweat glands.

Use of Atropine as an Anticholinergic Treatment

Substances that prevent acetylcholine from acting at muscarinic receptors are referred to as anticholinergic. According to Waxenbaum et al. (2023), atropine is utilized in this situation since it is an anticholinergic drug that prevents acetylcholine and muscarine from binding at muscarinic receptors. Bradycardia, glandular secretions, and gastrointestinal hyperactivity are among the symptoms that atropine relieves by inhibiting these receptors and counteracting the excessive parasympathetic activation brought on by muscarine.

References

Shari, S., Davies, W. I. L., & Gunhaga, L. (2020). Elucidation of Cellular Mechanisms That Regulate the Sustained Contraction and Relaxation of the Mammalian Iris. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 61(11), 5. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.61.11.5

Waxenbaum, J. A., Varacallo, M., & Reddy, V. (2023). Anatomy, Autonomic Nervous System. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539845/

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Four individuals presented to the ER with several signs and symptoms (see Table 1). While taking their history, you ask if they’ve recently ingested anything. At first, they didn’t claim anything but then one remembered they went mushroom hunting and added it to a stew. You’re truffle hunting skills paid off when you identified the mushroom from their photo of it as Amanita Muscaria, a mushroom containing the neurotoxin muscarine.

Muscarine Toxicity and Autonomic Nervous System Response – Identifying Receptor Binding and Symptom Analysis

Instructions
Review the article above, answer the following questions, and save your responses in a Microsoft Word document. Provide a scholarly resource in APA format to support your answers.

Four individuals presented to the ER with several signs and symptoms (see Table 1).

Looking at the signs and symptoms, you notice that one of the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is highly upregulated. Which one is it? Name three signs or symptoms that clued you in on it and why.

What receptor do you think muscarine binds to in the ANS? What neurotransmitter usually binds to the receptor?

At first, it seemed odd that three out of four of your patients were sweating. It makes sense now that you know what they ate. Why?

Treatment for this issue includes the use of atropine. Atropine is anticholinergic. Define anticholinergic and determine why you would use it in this case.