Xref: utzoo sci.bio:792 sci.med:3764
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!prls!philabs!aecom!werner
From: werner@aecom.YU.EDU (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.med
Subject: Re: Acetylcholine source needed...
Message-ID: <1559@aecom.YU.EDU>
Date: 16 Jan 88 05:58:10 GMT
References: <506@dl901b.engin.umich.edu> <560@spdcc.COM>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 31

> In article <506@dl901b.engin.umich.edu>, schonek@caen.engin.umich.edu (Anthony J Schonek) writes:
> >     I was curious about "Acetylcholine."  Supposedly it is a chemical in the
> > brain that stimulates memory response.  (I'm not a biologis/doctor so please
> > excuse the ignorance)  Anyway, does this actually stimulate memory response;
> > and in what forms could this chemical be purchased in order to perform the
> > desired effects.  I heard fish and liver contain this chemical, but is
> > there a drug that would be more efficient?

	Unfortunately, fish, liver, and whatever else, contain Choline, not
acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine is made in the nerve terminals, released on
demand, and destroyed milliseconds later.  Since the active metabolite is
made to order (and Choline can be made by the human being), eating more
in the form of Lethicin (which is primarily DPPC, dipalmityl phosphatidyl-
choline) doesn't do much.
	Of course, there are drugs that increase acetylcholine in the
nerve terminals: Edrophonium, Neostigmine, and other Acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors.  However, since acetylcholine is also used in autonomic
ganglia and muscle-nerve endplates, the effect will bring on uncontrolled
sweating and muscle spasms rather than memory enhancement.
	Two other "drugs" that increase acetylcholine in the nervous
system are Malathion and Parathion, which are not used as drugs, but
rather as industrial insecticides.  However, as far as increasing
Acetylcholine levels, they are quite "efficient," probably the most
efficient in general use.
	Would that memory enhancement were as easy as a pill...
	
-- 
	        Craig Werner   (future MD/PhD, 3 years down, 4 to go)
	     werner@aecom.YU.EDU -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
              (1935-14E Eastchester Rd., Bronx NY 10461, 212-931-2517)
                  "Doonesbury is more important than self-respect."