acetylcholine

Acetylcholine is a naturally occurring parasympathomimetic neurotransmitter and small molecule that plays a central role in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. In medicine, it is primarily used as an ophthalmic agent to induce rapid miosis (pupil constriction) during eye surgeries such as cataract extraction, penetrating keratoplasty, and iridectomy[1][3]. Its mechanism of action involves acting as an agonist at cholinergic receptors—specifically nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors—leading to contraction of the iris sphincter muscle (causing miosis) and ciliary muscle (causing accommodation spasm)[1][3][4]. Acetylcholine acts at neuromuscular junctions to activate muscles, serves as the main neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system, and modulates functions such as memory, attention, arousal, learning, and voluntary muscle movement in the brain[4][5]. Due to its rapid breakdown by cholinesterases in vivo, its clinical use is limited mainly to intraocular administration for surgical purposes[1].

Brand names

MiocholMiochol-E

Other names

acetylcholine chlorideACh