How Do You Spell MUSCARINE?

Pronunciation: [mˈʌskɐɹˌiːn] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Muscarine" is determined by its pronunciation, which is /ˈmʌskəriːn/. The word is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, which is indicated by the accent mark. The first syllable is pronounced as "musk," while the second syllable, "-arine," is pronounced as "uh-reen." The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is important to ensure proper pronunciation, especially in scientific and medical contexts where accuracy is essential. Overall, the spelling of "Muscarine" reflects its distinct and complex pronunciation.

MUSCARINE Meaning and Definition

1. Muscarine is a naturally occurring toxic alkaloid that belongs to the class of organic compounds known as muscimoloids. It is derived from certain types of mushrooms, particularly those belonging to the Amanita genus. The chemical formula of muscarine is C9H20NO2, and its systematic name is (3R)-3-[(aminomethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxolan-2-one.

   Muscarine acts as a selective agonist of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, specifically the M2 and M3 subtypes. It binds to these receptors and stimulates their activity, leading to various physiological effects in the body. Muscarine is primarily known for its ability to mimic the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and digestion. As a result, muscarine can cause increased salivation, sweating, tearing, miosis (constriction of the pupils), bronchoconstriction, and bradycardia (slowing of the heart rate). It can also affect smooth muscle tone and glandular secretion.

   Due to its potent cholinergic properties, muscarine can be highly toxic if ingested or absorbed into the body. Its toxicity can manifest in symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. Severe poisoning with muscarine may require medical intervention and supportive care to counteract its effects.

   Muscarine is of particular interest in the field of pharmacology due to its ability to selectively target specific muscarinic receptor subtypes. It is often used in laboratory studies to investigate the physiological mechanisms underlying muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activation and signaling pathways.

2. A crystalline alkaloid, C5H13NO2, present in the fly-agaric, in certain other poisonous mushrooms, and in putrefying fish.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for MUSCARINE

• muscarrin
• muscarin
• muscarrine
• nuscarine
• kuscarine
• juscarine
• myscarine
• mhscarine
• mjscarine
• miscarine
• m8scarine
• m7scarine
• muacarine
• muzcarine
• muxcarine
• mudcarine
• muecarine
• muwcarine
• musxarine
• musvarine

Etymology of MUSCARINE

The word "Muscarine" has its etymology derived from the Latin name for the fly agaric mushroom, Amanita muscaria. The term "muscarine" was coined in 1869 by a German chemist named Oscar Hesse, who isolated the compound for the first time from Amanita muscaria. The name derives from the Latin word "musca", meaning "fly", as the mushroom was traditionally used to attract and kill flies, and the suffix "-ine" is a common ending used to designate a compound derived from a specific source. Therefore, "muscarine" refers to the compound found in the fly agaric mushroom.

Plural form of MUSCARINE is MUSCARINES