Acetylcholine release at peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals

Acetylcholine release at peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals refers to the process in which acetylcholine, a major neurotransmitter in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, is exocytosed from nerve endings into the synaptic cleft, particularly at sites such as neuromuscular junctions and autonomic ganglia. Release is triggered by presynaptic depolarization and calcium influx, facilitating vesicle fusion with the presynaptic membrane via the SNARE complex and VAChT, allowing acetylcholine to act rapidly on postsynaptic nicotinic or muscarinic receptors. Disruption of this process leads to profound neuromuscular or autonomic dysfunction, and it is a point of action for certain neurotoxins (e.g., botulinum toxin) and clinical disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis).

Other names

Acetylcholine exocytosisAcetylcholine secretionCholinergic neurotransmitter releaseSynaptic acetylcholine release

Inhibition of vesicle fusion (e.g., botulinum toxin inhibits SNARE proteins), stimulation of vesicle release (e.g., black widow spider venom causes excessive release), and modulation of presynaptic calcium influx (e.g., Mg2+, specific disease states).