Basic Phenomena Underlying Novel use of Cholinergic Agents, Anticholinesterases and Precursors in Neurological Including Peripheral and Psychiatric Disease

Cortical Acetylcholine, Reality Distortion, Schizophrenia, and Lewy Body Dementia: Too Much or Too Little Cortical Acetylcholine?

“…In the 1950s, potent cholinesterase inhibitors such as diisofluoropropylphosphate (''dyflos'') were also tested in schizophrenics and reported to trigger psychotic episodes (Rowntree, Nevis, & Wilson, 1950). To the extent that the effects of systemically administered drugs assist in the discussion of the hypothesis that cortical cholinergic hyperactivity mediates the development of schizophrenic symptoms, the psychotic effects of chronic administration of cholinesterase inhibitors in humans provide support for this hypothesis (for further references see Karczmar, 1981).…”

Brief Presentation of the Story and Present Status of Studies of the Vertebrate Cholinergic System

“…Subsequently, Himwich, Bovet, Oliverio, JOllvet, Deutsch, Drachman, Stein, Russel, and others demon strated the effects of atropinics, anti-ChEs, and choliner gic agonists and antagonists (whether given directly into localized CNS sites or given systemically in the case of drugs capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier) on learning and memory, arousal and sleep, nociception, aggression, fear, addiction, and reward-punishment be havior (Waser 1975;Karczmar 1967Karczmar , 1970Karczmar , 1981Karczmar , 1990Hintgen and Aprison 1976). The cholinergic correlates of these functions and behaviors were established not only by the nature of the drugs employed but also by the presence of the cholinergic pathways in the perti nent brain areas and the demonstration of the release of ACh following either the stimulation of these path ways or the evocation of these functions (Pepeu 1993).…”