A/P Unit 4 Flashcards
Which NM disease gets worse throughout the day? Why?
MG - because we start to run out of ACh as the day goes on
What NM disease gets better with activity?
LEMS/ELMS - with more activity, the body develops a temporary workaround, they theory is through more ACh binding to the auto receptor
What drugs can treat LEMS/ELMS?
TEA (tetra ethyl-ammonium), 3-4di-aminopyridine and steroids
What smooth muscle is primarily grouped together via gap junctions?
Visceral
What smooth muscle gives us good fine motor control?
Multi-unit
What advantages does the opposing orientation of smooth muscle myosin heads provide?
Greater ability to lengthen and contract. They also need minimal overlap to function. Overall, greater magnitude of shortening.
A pacemaker cell’s Vrm is significantly higher due to which ions?
Na and Ca
Define oscillating membrane potential
The change in membrane potential as the permeability to ions (for smooth muscle, its Ca and Na) changes. As it increases, it can (but not always) lead to an AP. This creates “waves”, similar in appearance to A. Flutter waves
What is the process of a smooth muscle contraction?
Ca enters the cell, which causes release of SR Ca. This binds to calmodulin to form a complex. This complex activates MLCK which phosphorylates the myosin light chain and contraction occurs. When Ca is pumped out, myosin phosphatase removes the phosphate from myosin light chain, causing relaxation.
Ca entry -> SR Ca release -> binds to calmodulin -> activates MLCK -> Phosphorylates MLC -> contraction
What dictates the rate of cross bridge cycling in smooth muscle?
The rate of phosphorylation of the MLC and myosin phosphatase (if one is higher than the other, the rate will mimic that, so if MLC is being phosphorylated faster than myosin phosphatase can removed them, then contraction rate will increase).
What are the 3 ways Ca is removed from the smooth muscle cell?
1: SERCA pump into the SR
2: PMCA pump into the extracellular fluid
3: Pumped out via the Ca/Na ATP-ase pump (1 Ca our for 3 Na in)
note the SERCA and PMCA (plasma membrane Ca pump) are identical, the only difference is location in the cell
The setup of the smooth muscle most closely mimic what other cell?
Heart muscle cell
What is the NO precursor?
L-arginine
What are the 3 versions of nitric oxide synthase, and define each
iNOS - inducible, meaning its not around all the time and is expressed under specific conditions
eNOS - endothelia version, active pretty much around the clock. Located in the endothelial cells of the blood vessel
nNOS - neuronal, used to communicate between neurons
What meditates NO release from the endothelium?
ACh, it binds to the endothelium via mACh receptors, which causes NO release. Done to help improve blood flow to the muscle
Define shear stress
Blood flow is normally laminar, if it becomes turbulent or picks up speed, the vessel detects this because the vessel changes shape, and encourages NO release
Define the process of ACh or bradykinin (both can start this process) activating NO release
They bind to the GPCR -> Ca release from the ER -> binds to calmodulin -> turns on eNOS -> Arginine turned into NO -> No diffuses from the endothelial cell to the vascular smooth muscle cell -> activates soluble guanylyl cyclase -> cGMP -> activates PKG (protein kinase G) which phosphorylates a Ca channel (which closes the channel) and phosphorylates MLCK (which turns it off, MLC is now not being activated) causing vascular relaxation
What breaks down cGMP? What drugs can inhibit it?
PDE (phosphodiesterase), and sildenafil and milrinone
What are the NO donors mentioned in lecture?
Nitrates or nitrites, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin
What can start a smooth muscle contraction?
An AP causing Ca to get into the cell, or any other method getting Ca into the cell. An AP is not required, as long as Ca gets into the cell, a contraction can occur
Describe the process of smooth muscle constriction via the alpha-1 receptor
Agonist binds (such as neo) -> GPCR alpha subunit disassociates, starts phospholipase C -> IP3 and DAG released -> DAG activates PKC which causes contraction, IP3 opens calcium release channels in the SR -> binds to calmodulin -> increase MLCK activity -> phosphorylation of MLC -> contraction
What example of stretch induced relaxation was used in lecture other than blood vessels responding to higher driving pressure?
The bladder, as UOP increases, the bladder initially stretches and you don’t feel the need to urinate. It continues this up to a point, then the urge hits.
What is the skeletal response to a neurotransmitter?
All or nothing response
What does a skeletal AP resemble?
A neuron AP
What does a smooth muscle AP resemble?
Variable, depends on the muscle. Uterine looks like a fast heart AP. Normal smooth muscle AP is somewhat reminiscent of a neuro AP
What ions dictate oscillating membrane potential change, what is the main one?
Na and Ca, Na being the main one
What, generally, is the pacemaking current?
Na
Per lecture, is an example of oscillating membrane potential causing smooth muscle action?
Intestinal functions, mainly peristalsis. The APs from them could represent intestinal spasms or cramps
What is the contraction of heart strength highly dependent upon?
ECF calcium influx
What is the term for outside calcium releasing internal calcium from the SR?
Calcium induced, calcium released
What happens to the myocytes as they stretch from preload?
You get better cross bridge alignment, leading to better contraction
In a healthy heart, what is the relationship to blood returning to the heart?
The heart pumps out whatever we return to it
What is the Vrm of the SA node? Threshold?
-55, -40
What would happen to phase 4 with increased Na permeability? Less?
Increased Na = sharper slope = faster HR
Decreased Na = flatter slope = slower HR
What would happen to Vrm with increased K permeability? Less?
Increased K = more - Vrm = slower HR, slope of phase 4 not affected
Decreased K = more + Vrm = faster HR, slope of phase 4 not affected
What governs K permeability in the heart?
mACH receptors. More ACh = more K permeability = slower HR (vagal stimulation)
Less ACh = less K permeability = faster HR (this is what atropine does, block K channels to raise Vrm)
How does calcium impact threshold potential?
Increased Ca = raised threshold = slower HR (takes longer to get to threshold)
Decreased Ca = lowered threshold = faster HR
What phases are in a slow heart AP?
Phase 4, 0 and 3
What phases are in a fast heart AP?
Phase 0 - 4, though phase 1 is not labeled in lecture
What are the differences between fast and slow cardiac APs?
Phase 0 = nearly vertical in fast, more of a slope in slow
Phase 1 = minor in fast, none in slow
Phase 2 = plateau in fast, none in slow
Phase 3 = nearly identical, both are sharp lines down
Phase 4 = flatter in fast, steeper in slow
Which has a longer AP duration, ventricles or nodal AP?
Ventricular
What ion dictates a slow AP?
Calcium
What is the other term for phase 4?
Diastolic depolarization
What drives phase 0 in the fast AP?
Na
Why is calcium the ion that drives a slow AP?
There are either no fast Na channels, or they don’t work in a slow AP
Why does width of AP change throughout the ventricular tissue?
To make sure all the ventricular tissue contracts in a coordinated timely manner
What would happen if the nodal tissue went offline?
Eventually, the fast AP of the ventricles would take over, with a rate of 15 - 30
What is five and dime reflex? (Also known as the oculocardic reflex)
This is when during ocular surgery you put pressure in the wrong area and get massive vagal output. Can cause can cardiac arrest for 30 - 40 seconds. Name tells you want nerves are compressed, 5 and 10.
Per lecture what happens with an especially strong vagal response?
You can take the SA/AV nodes offline, causing complete heart block
In a fast AP, how many more times are we permeable to potassium relative to sodium at rest?
Roughly ten times
What are the 3 factors you can change to affect HR?
Change Na permeability (changing the slope of phase 4), change Vrm with K permeability, or change threshold (via Ca)
How much of the hearts calcium is internally stored? How much comes from the outside?
80 internal, 20 outside
What is a basic difference between cardiac and muscle T-tubules in terms of ions?
Cardiac T-tubules let Ca in
How much Ca is pumped back into the SR in cardiac cells? What happens to the other 20% (specify amount and pumps)
80% goes into the SR via SERCA pumps, of the last 20%, 15 is pumped out via the NCX pump (1 Ca out, 3 Na in) 5 is pumped out via a Ca-ATPase pump
What acts as the brakes of the SR?
Phospholamban
What would happen if you excite phospholamban?
Prolongs contraction of the heart, active sites are revealed longer. If inhibited, shortens contraction of the heart, more Ca gets packed into the SR
What are the 3 things that PKA does in the heart?
Takes the brakes off the SERCA pump, opens the Ca channels and keeps them open, increase strength of contraction by phosphorylating troponin I
What governs PKA activity?
How much cAMP we have
What degrades cAMP and cGMP?
Phosphodiesterase
What non drug mentioned in lecture can inhibit PDE in the heart?
Caffeine
What does cAMP do in nodal tissue?
Increases due to beta stimulation, allows Na in, which would increase HR
What connects heart cells to each other? What is unique about its anatomy?
Intercalated disks, and they have many infoldings that allow surface area for gap junctions to allow electricity to easily spread
What is the primary current going through gap junctions?
Na current
How many nuclei are present in a heart cell?
1 - 3
What is the difference in troponin I in the heart vs skeletal muscle?
In the heart, it can be phosphorylated
What do cardiac stem cells and fibroblasts do? What is the difference between them?
Both fix the heart, stem cells are slower but will replace cell(s) over time. Fibroblasts are a fast repair system, but don’t replace cells, they’ll just place scar tissue
What condition is associated with too much fibroblast activity?
CHF
What slows down fibroblasts in CHF? What condition to you not want to take it?
ACE inhibitors, do not take them if you are pregnant
What is the term for the hearts ability to function as a unit by sharing or spreading an electrical current to its neighbors?
Syncytial connections
List the layers of the heart, inner to outer
Endocardium, myocardium, pericardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium, fibrous pericardium
According to lecture, what layers make up the pericardium?
Epicardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium and fibrous pericardium
Why is the crisscross pattern of muscle fibers in the heart an advantage?
This provides a very efficient and powerful method to pump out blood. Think of how wringing out a towel by twisting it gets out so much water.
What is the difference in T-tubule of a heart compared to a skeletal one?
It is 5x wider, and holds 25x volume
What process does the heart use to store calcium in the T-tubule?
A network of carbohydrate groups that act like a sponge for calcium
What pumps calcium back into the SR in the heart (be specific)?
SERCA2 pump, it is functionally the same as other SERCA pumps, just a different isoform
What does phospholamban do?
It functions as a brake for the SERCA pump
What is the Vrm of ventricular muscle? The Purkinje fibers? What is the rate?
-80 and -90 to -95 and a heart rate of 15 - 40 bpm
How much longer is a cardiac contraction relative to skeletal?
15x
What is the refractory period? When does it occur?
A period during the cardiac cycle were the heart cannot be stimulated. Occurs from Phase 0 to halfway through phase 3.
What is the relative refractory period? When does it occur?
A period where some of the Na/Ca channels have reset, and with a strong enough stimulus, a cardiac AP can be created (though it will be weaker than normal). Occurs from the middle of phase 3 to the end of phase 3.
What does the R. Vagus nerve innervate in the heart? The left?
R = SA node at the right atrium
L = AV node in the middle of the heart