Most types of nerve gas exert their effect by inactivating acetylcholinesterase. One of the antidotes for nerve gas is atropine, which is also a poison. Although it may seem strange to have one poison counteract the effects of another poison, which of the following suggestions might be accurate for the effect that atropine has on the neuromuscular junction?
A) Atropine increases the production of acetylcholine in the synaptic vesicles.
B) Atropine increases the release of acetylcholine across the synaptic cleft.
C) Atropine increases the number of receptor sites for acetylcholine on the muscle cell membrane.
D) Atropine attaches to receptor sites for acetylcholine on the muscle cell membrane.
E) Atropine increases both the release of acetylcholine and the number of available receptor sites.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atropine attaches to receptor sites for acetylcholine on the muscle cell membrane, preventing nerve gas from binding to and inactivating them. This allows acetylcholine to continue binding to the remaining available receptors, leading to increased muscle activity and reversal of the nerve gas effects. Atropine does not increase the production or release of acetylcholine, or increase the number of receptor sites.

Most Types of Nerve Gas Exert Their Effect by Inactivating