6.12 - Intro. ANS Pharm

Question 1

What is a direct drug action, give examples?

Answer 1

• Direct action: stimulate or block post-synaptic receptors.

- Ex: Muscarinic (cholinergic) receptor stimulant: Bronchoconstriction or bronchospasm. blocker: broncodilation.

Question 2

What is an indirect drug effect? What are the types?

Answer 2

• Indirect: Drug-induced actions are mediated by the natural neurotransmitter.
• Stimulate the release of neurotransmitter from pre-synaptic neuron.
• Inhibit the release of neurotransmitter from pre-synaptic neuron.
• Inhibit systems that limit the synaptic concentration/ duration of neurotransmitters.

Question 3

What are some drug targets in the PSNS?

Answer 3

• Post synaptic muscarinic receptor: stimulate or block.

- Block acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: cause an increase in muscarinic stimulation.

Question 4

What is an example of an indirect drug effect on ACh?

Answer 4

• Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors -> keeps ACh active.

Question 5

What is the effect of drug-effected muscarinic receptor stimulation?

Answer 5

• DUMBBELLS
• Diarrhea
• Urination
• Miosis
• Bradycardia
• Bronchoconstriction
• Emesis
• Lacrimation
• Salivation
• Sweating

Question 6

What would be the effect of drug-effected muscarinic receptor inhibition?

Answer 6

• Opposite of stimulation.

Question 7

What are some drug targets in the SNS?

Answer 7

• Post-synaptic receptor types: alpha and beta.
• Block reuptake of serotonin or dopamine or NE.
• Stimulate release of NE with amphetamines.
• Monamineoxidase and catechol-o-methyl-transferase inhibition: allow for increased levels of NE to be release or created.
• Stimulation of alpha-2 auto receptor: decreased NE.

Question 8

What is the primary therapeutic goal in beta receptors?

Answer 8

• Block beta-1 receptors, minimal effect on beta-2 receptors

Question 9

What is the primary therapeutic goal in alpha receptors?

Answer 9

• Block alpha-1 with minimal effect on alpha-2

Question 10

What is an indirect effect used in the SNS?

Answer 10

• Stimulation of release of norepinephrine.

- Inhibit NE inactivation by monoamine oxidase or COMT.

Question 11

What is semi-selective drug receptor activity? Example.

Answer 11

• Usually aim for a specific target when designing drugs.
• However, more often then not these drugs interfere on other receptors for other organs.
• Ex: Albuterol is beta-2 receptor agonist used as a bronchodilator. It also can effect heart rate.