101k views
2 votes
What happens when the acetylcholine recepter sites are not occupied?

User FrogInABox
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

When acetylcholine receptor sites are not occupied, the neurotransmitter does not have any effect on the postsynaptic cell and cannot elicit a response.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the acetylcholine receptor sites are not occupied, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine cannot bind to the receptors and open ion channels. This means that the postsynaptic cell does not receive the signal from the acetylcholine, and there is no depolarization or activation of the cell.

One example of this is the breakdown of acetylcholine by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the synaptic cleft. This prevents acetylcholine from remaining bound to the receptors and causing extended muscle contraction.

Overall, when acetylcholine receptor sites are not occupied, the neurotransmitter does not have any effect on the postsynaptic cell and cannot elicit a response.

User Dominik Seibold
by
8.6k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.