Atropine

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Please do NOT make changes to this Sandbox. Sandboxes 30-60 are reserved for use by Biochemistry 410 & 412 at Messiah College taught by Dr. Hannah Tims during Fall 2012 and Spring 2013.

1 Atropine
- 1.1 Introduction and Background
- 1.2 Function
  - 1.2.1 Medical Uses
  - 1.2.2 Uses in Veterinary Medicine
2 References

Atropine

Introduction and Background

(image, atropine)

Atropine is an alkaloid drug derived from levohyscocyamine, a plant compound found in the family Solanaceae^[1]. It's chemical name is 8-methyl-8-azabicycolo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl) 3-hydroxy-2-phenylpropanoate, and the most common medicinal form of atropine is atrophine sulfate ((C17H23NO3)2·H2SO4·H2O)^[2]. It is a competitive inhibitor of both acetylcholine and phospholipase 2 and has a variety of effects on both humans and animals. Although it is poisonous, in the correct dosages it has a wide variety of medical uses in both human and veterinary medicine, and can be given orally, through IV fluids, or rectally.

Function

Atropine is part of the tropane group alkaloid family, which includes other substances such as cocaine. Atropine binds to acetylcholine receptors, blocking the action of acetylcholine and therefore suppressing the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system^[3]. In humans, it is metabolized approximately 50%, hydrolyzed to tropine and toropic acid, and the remaining unchanged drug is excreted in the urine^[4].

Medical Uses

Since atropine affects the parasympathetic nervous system, it has a wide variety of effects. It is largely used as an ophthalmic drug, as it paralyzes the accommodation reflex and dilates the pupil^[5]. It is most commonly seen in ophthalmics, as it paralyzes the accommodation reflex in the eye and dilates the pupils. The mechanism for dilation involves blocking the contraction of the circularly pupillary sphincter muscle, which is normally stimulated by acetylcholine release^[6].