What is "butyrylcholine"

n. A synthetic acetylcholine-like molecule, with activation of some of the same receptors, which is hydrolysed by acetylcholinesterase and (more efficiently) by butyrylcholinesterase.

Butyrylcholine is a choline-based ester that can function as a neurotransmitter. It is similar to acetylcholine, with activation of some of the same receptors as acetylcholine. Butyrylcholine is a synthetic compound and does not occur in the body naturally. It is used as a clinical laboratory tool to distinguish between the cholinesterases; acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase preferentially lyse acetylcholine and butyrylcholine, respectively.