Cholinergic activity of mu-opioid agonists and therapeutic potential

[Anxious.Individual]

I read an abstract on pubmed a while ago, where it was stated that mu-opioid agonists caused acetylcholine release in the nucleus accumbens, increasing it's levels by more than 300%. We certainly know that opiates increase muscarinic-acetylcholine receptor activity, which is seen by the pupil constriction they cause. However I don't doubt that opiates are full cholinergic agents. What do you guys think? Could this possibly have therapeutic potential like treatment of Alzheimer's?

 

[Ligaturd]

beep

 

[polymath]

Meperidine (Demerol) is the only opioid I know that has significant anticholinergic effects. That's why it usually doesn't cause miosis.

 

[aced126]

The increase of Ach in the Nac is probably just due to activation of neurons in that area. As polymath mentioned, if opioids directly blocked acetylcholine receptors, they would cause mydriasis, which is clearly not the case.