Question

why the same neurotransmitter can have different effects on different cells​

Answer 1

neurotransmitter is a chemical substance which is released at the end of a nerve fiber in response of nerve impulse. Neurotransmitter bind to receptors on other cells and have various effect. but same neurotransmitter have different effects on different cells. the reason is explained in following.

Explanation:

• neurotransmitter must bind to a receptor  to exert its function.
• different cell have different receptor for the same neurotransmitter. Intracellular signaling pathway will be different for different receptor. so the same neurotransmitter have different effect on different cells if they bind to different  receptors.
• for acetylcholine there are two type of receptor. one is nicotinic and another is muscarinic. nicotinic receptor found on skeletal muscle and muscarinic receptor found in cardiac muscle.
• if acetylcholine bound to the nicotinic receptor on skeletal muscle it cause muscle contraction, but if it bound to muscarinic receptor on cardiac muscle it prevent muscle contraction