A question about muscles and acetylcholine?

Question

How would a drug that competes with acetylcholine for receptors at the motor end plate affect skeletal muscle?

A) Would it produce uncontrolled muscle spasms?

B) Would it make the muscles more excitable?

C) Would it cause spastic paralysis?

D) Would have no effect on muslces?

E) Or would it cause flaccid paralysis?

Ten points will be given...thanks!

Answer 1

Since skeletal muscles require acetylcholine (Ach) to be excited/activated, the answer would be E.

If a drug competes with Ach, thus blocking Ach's effect, it would block the Ach binding to the Ach receptors on the muscle membrane and causes flaccid paralysis--so there is no muscle movement. Spastic paralysis occurs with upper motor neuron lesions and flaccid paralysis occurs with lower motor neuron paralysis (as is the case here-between neuron and muscle.)