Aminosteroids are a group of

steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and ...

s with a similar

structure A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such a ...

based on an

amino In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent ...

substituted A substitution reaction (also known as single displacement reaction or single substitution reaction) is a chemical reaction during which one functional group in a chemical compound is replaced by another functional group. Substitution reactions ar ...

nucleus. They are neuromuscular blocking agents, acting as

competitive Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indivi ...

antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist. Etymology The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, ri ...

s of the

nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or nAChRs, are receptor polypeptides that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Nicotinic receptors also respond to drugs such as the agonist nicotine. They are found in the central and peripheral ner ...

(nAChR), and block the

signaling In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The '' IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing' ...

acetylcholine Acetylcholine (ACh) is an organic chemical that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Par ...

in the

nervous system In biology, the nervous system is the highly complex part of an animal that coordinates its actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different parts of its body. The nervous system detects environmental changes ...

. These drugs include

candocuronium iodide Candocuronium iodide (INN, formerly chandonium, HS-310) is an aminosteroid neuromuscular-blocking drug. Its use in anesthesia for endotracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation was brie ...

(chandonium iodide),

dacuronium bromide Dacuronium bromide ( INN, BAN) (developmental code name NB-68) is an aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agent which was never marketed. It acts as a competitive antagonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Nicotinic acetylcholine re ...

dihydrochandonium Dihydrochandonium is an aminosteroid non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent. References Muscle relaxants Nicotinic antagonists Quaternary ammonium compounds Steroids Neuromuscular blockers {{musculoskeletal-drug-stub ...

dipyrandium Dipyrandium is an aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agent. References Androstanes Nicotinic antagonists {{musculoskeletal-drug-stub ...

, malouetine, pancuronium bromide,

pipecuronium bromide Pipecuronium (Arduan) is a bisquaternary aminosteroid muscle relaxant which blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. It is also an antagonist of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors and is the most potent neuromuscular ...

rapacuronium bromide Rapacuronium bromide (brand name Raplon) is a rapidly acting, non-depolarizing aminosteroid neuromuscular blocker formerly used in modern anaesthesia, to aid and enable endotracheal intubation, which is often necessary to assist in the controlle ...

, rocuronium bromide,

stercuronium iodide Stercuronium iodide (INN, USAN) (developmental code names MYC-1080, MYSC-1080) is an aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agent which was never marketed. It acts as a competitive antagonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and is a ...

, and vecuronium bromide.

References

Muscle relaxants Nicotinic antagonists Quaternary ammonium compounds Steroids {{musculoskeletal-drug-stub

See also

References