Muscarinic Antagonistic

Muscarinic receptors, or mAChRs, are acetylcholine receptors that form G protein-coupled in the plasma membranes of certain neurons^[1] and other cells. They play several roles, including acting as the main end-receptor stimulated by acetylcholine released from postganglionic fibers in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Muscarinic receptors were named as such because they are more sensitive to muscarine than to nicotine.^[2] Their counterparts are nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), receptor ion channels that are also important in the autonomic nervous system. Many drugs and other substances (for example pilocarpine and scopolamine) manipulate these two distinct receptors by acting as selective agonists or antagonists.<sup>[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscarinic_acetylcholine_receptor</sup>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscarine

Muscarine was first isolated from Amanita muscaria in 1869. It was the first parasympathomimetic substance ever studied and causes profound activation of the peripheral parasympathetic nervous system that may end in convulsions and death. Being a quaternary amine, muscarine is less completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract than tertiary amines, but it does cross the blood brain barrier.^[2] Muscarinic agonists activate muscarinic receptors while nicotinic agonists activate nicotin receptors. Both are direct-acting cholinomimetics; they produce their effects by binding to and activating cholinergic receptors. Final proof of the structure was given by Jellinek (61) in 1957 with the help of X-ray diffraction analysis. These new findings set into motion research not only on the pharmacology of muscarine, but also on that of muscarine-like substances that are structurally related to acetylcholine.

Pharmacratic Inquisition FULL DOCU'

This documentary features comprehensive coverage and study of AMANITA MUSCARIA (The fly agaric) among other entheogens, symbolic alchemy and psychedelic mysticism. Featuring a synthesis of work done by John Allegro, R. Gordon Wasson, Carl Ruck, James Arthur, Mike Crowley, and others. My interest in Amanita Muscaria, Shamanism and altered states of consciousness begun when I read Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson, who, I might add, remained skeptical about the many 'magic mushroom theories' about religion proposed by the above researchers, but, in a more broad sense he showed that evidence suggests that humans have been dosing their own nervous systems with psychedelic compounds for over 30'000 years. He also wrote a book dedicated to drugs, sex and Magick:

fly agaric, flies, Mushrooms, Reindeer and Urine: a world piss paradise

An art show with live animals where visitors can sleep over and take drugs is all about changing perceptions.

WHAT could be more festive than spending a night in an art gallery with a dozen reindeer and a fridge full of psychedelic drugs? Soma, Carsten Holler's installation in a former railway station in Berlin, purports to offer exactly that. A pen running the length of the Hamburger Bahnhof, the city's contemporary art museum, contains 12 reindeer, 24 canaries, eight mice and two flies. Giant toadstool sculptures are planted on a mushroom clock that the reindeer can turn with their antlers, and at the centre is a mushroom-shaped ''floating hotel'' - a bed on a platform complete with minibar, yours for €1000 ($A1320) a night. (There's also a raffle for free places.)

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/science-v-art-mustwee-event-20101222-195jr.html

The point of all this, beyond a theme park experience, is 'soma'. Höller has explored the history of this mythical narcotic, which apparently contained the secret to happiness, knowledge and wealth. Poets waxed lyrical about it in Hindu verse written 4,000 years ago. But the recipe has been lost. It is believed to derive from a mushroom (the fly agoria) and was at its most potent when consumed via the urine of a creature, which had eaten the mushrooms. Reindeer ate the mushrooms in their Siberian habitat, and hence their urine was prized. It induced a trance of extraordinary power and insight. Soma was liberation, and maybe it was escape. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/seductive-lure-of-carsten-hllers-living-wonderland-2171904.html