1 - Introduction

Question 1

What is physiology?

Answer 1

Study of function and mechanisms within living systems?

Question 2

What is pharmacology?

Answer 2

Study of molecular signallers regulating physiological processes

Question 3

What are the broad classifications of signalling molecules?

Answer 3

• Endogenous (within the body)
• Exogenous I (natural - plant-based: morphine, aspirin, antibiotics)
• Exogenous II (synthetic - man-made)

Question 4

What are the 3 main extracellular signalling methods?

Answer 4

• Endocrine - substances transported in the blood
• Paracrine - substance has a local effect near where it was secreted
• Autocrine - substance has an effect on the cell that secreted it

Question 5

Endocrine signals are highly potent, what concentration range is secreted to have an affect?

Answer 5

Picomolar (-12) to nanomolar (-9)

Question 6

What are the 3 major types of endocrine signalling molecules?

Answer 6

• Catecholamines (hydrophilic) - amino acid derivatives with receptors in the plasma membrane (e.g. adrenaline)
• Peptides/proteins (hydrophilic) - short chain to many chains with receptors in the plasma membrane (e.g. insulin)
• Steroids (lipophilic) - derived from cholesterol, receptors are intracellular (e.g. testosterone)

Question 7

Order steroids, catecholamines and peptides/proteins by time course of action (shortest to longest).

Answer 7

1. catecholamines (ms - s)
2. peptides/proteins (min - hrs)
3. steroids (hrs - days)

Question 8

Neurotransmitters are a type of ……… signalling molecule. What is the distance a neurotransmitter needs to travel?

Answer 8

Paracrine

~20 nm

Question 9

What are the 3 major groups of neurotransmitter?

What is one major nt that is an exception to these groups?

Answer 9

Amino acid, monoamine, peptide

Acetylcholine - unique as it does not fit into these categories

Question 10

Give examples of monoamine neurotransmitters and whether they are inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 10

Adrenaline - excitatory
Noradrenaline - excitatory
Dopamine - excitatory and inhibitory
Serotonin - excitatory

Question 11

Give examples of amino acid neurotransmitters and whether they are inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 11

Glutamate - excitatory
Glycine - inhibitory
GABA - inhibitory

Question 12

At the NMJ, acetylcholine is excitatory or inhibitory?

Answer 12

Excitatory

Question 13

What are the 4 signalling molecule targets?

What target is an exception to this?

Answer 13

R - Receptors
I - Ion channels
T - Transporters
E - Enzymes

In chemotherapy, structural proteins and DNA are the targets.

Question 14

What are the 4 receptor subtypes used as molecular targets?

Answer 14

K - kinase linked receptors
I - ion channel / ionotropic (ligand-gated)
N - nuclear (intracellular)
G - GPCRs