5 Pharmacology Flashcards
wake promoting neurotransmitters
noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine, dopamine, orexin (hypocretin)- all innervate cortical regions
sleep promoting neurotransmitters
GABA, Galanin
What is adenosine?
ATP is the brains metabolic currency, throughout the day ATP is metabolised and broken down into adenosine. Adenosine builds up throughout the day (sleep pressure).
Acts via adenosine receptors, upon activation these receptors block neurotransmission release in particular cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain.
- these receptors promote wakefulness therefore blocking them makes sleepy.
what is the sleep promoting area
the VLPO is the sleep promoting area
importantly it inhibtis the neurotransmitters involved in arousal.
through the use of GABA and Galanin
How does caffeine work
caffeine has a similar molecular structure to adenosine., therefore it has the ability to bind to these receptors. upon binding to them it blocks them, leading to wakefulness.
how does caffeine affect SOL, lighter sleep, SWS, REM, WASO, total sleep, sleep efficiency?
SOL increased lighter sleep increased SWS decreased REM decreased WASO increased total sleep reduced sleep efficiency reduced.
how does withdrawal from caffeine affect SOL, lighter sleep, SWS, REM, WASO, total sleep, sleep efficiency?
SOL reduced
REM increased
WASO increased
total sleep increased
what is nicotines mechanism of action?
stimulates cholinergic neurotransmission in the basal forebrain.
nicotine activates acetylcholine receptors which also bind with nAchR once these receptors are activated they enable ions to pass through which initiates an action potential this AP propergates and travels to the nucleus accumbens activating reward circuits in the brain which result in the release of dopamine.
how does nicotine affect SOL, lighter sleep, SWS, REM, WASO, total sleep, sleep efficiency?
SOL increased lighter sleep increased SWS decreased REM decreased WASO increased total sleep reduced
nicotine withdrawal
SOL decreased
WASO increased
REM increased
total sleep time increased
Alcohol ?
has both stimulating and sedative effect.
stimulating via excitatory neurotransmitters.
Sedative due to increased GABA activity or adenosine.
Adenosine= Alcohol leads to an increase in extracellular adenosine, more adenosine makes you more sleepy.
affects of alcohol on affect SOL, lighter sleep, SWS, REM, WASO, total sleep, sleep efficiency?
SOL decreased
SWS increased
REM decreased
2nd half of night REM rebound and increased WASO.
withdrawal of alcohol ?
SOL increased SWS decreased REM increased (rebound) WASO increased total sleep reduced sleep efficiency reduced
Cannabis mechanism of action
CBD and THC both act via cannabinoid receptors in the brain- CB1 receptors linked to REM sleep and are found in high concentrations in the frontal cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia.
CBD (antagonist)
blocks CB1 receptor activity= increased wakefulness
