Cholinergic Antagonists · Pharmacology

In the cardiovascular system, what is the effect of high-dose Atropine on the heart rate?

  1. Bradycardia due to enhanced vagal tone at the SA node
  2. Tachycardia due to blockade of M2 receptors at the SA node
  3. No change, since the SA node is regulated only by sympathetic nerves
  4. Complete heart block from AV nodal conduction failure
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Correct answer: Tachycardia due to blockade of M2 receptors at the SA node

Atropine blocks M2 receptors at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which normally mediate the inhibitory 'vagal tone' of the parasympathetic nervous system. Removing this inhibition results in an increase in heart rate.

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