When the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is applied to skeletal muscle cells it a

Question

When the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is applied to skeletal muscle cells it activates the acetylcholine receptor that is a calcium ion channel causing the muscle cells to contract. In other words, acetylcholine is an agonist for the receptor. A similar molecule, succinylcholine, has been demonstrated to bind the same acetylcholine receptor on skeletal muscle cells and is sometimes used by surgeons as a muscle relaxant. Why does succinylcholine causes muscle relaxation instead of contraction, as acetylcholine does? In other words, what would you call succinylcholine?

Explanation / Answer

Succinyl choline is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent.

It functions as a neuromuscular blocker that depolarizes motor end plate.

Succinyl choline depolarizes the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber which is similar to acetyl choline.

But, Succinyl choline is resistant to degradation by acetyl choline esterase and thus it causes persistent depolarization.

Succinyl choline is a nicotinic agonist that blocks the receptors from binding to acetyl choline.

The entire process makes muscles not to contract again for a period of time resulting in muscle relaxation.

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