Organophosphorus Nerve Agents: Types, Toxicity, and Treatments

Figure 2

Depiction of cellular interaction of AChE, Ach, and OPCs. (a) Choline released from ACh hydrolysis, moves to axon where it reacts with acetyl moiety of co-acetyl to from ACh by an enzyme ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) and gets stored in vesicles along with cotransmitters such as ATP. (b) The influx of calcium results in the fusion of membranes. (c) Fusion leads to release of ACh into neuron junctions. (d) Interaction of ACh with nAChRs and mAChRs. (e) Signalling to different physiological targets. (f) Excess ACh after signalling, interacts with AChE and degrades into choline and acetate. (g) OPC binds with AChE and leads to increased ACh and endless signalling.