Anti-parkinsonian drugs and neuroleptics Flashcards
What are the three neural pathways involved in dopamine?
Nigrostriatal pathway
Mesolimbic pathway
Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Describe the nigrostriatal pathway
Substantia nigra pars compacta -> striatum
Involved in control of movements
Describe the mesolimbic pathway
Ventral tegmental area -> limbic system (amygdala, hippocampus etc.), frontal cortex, olfactory tubercle, nucleus accumbens.
Involved in emotion
Describe the tuberoinfundibular system
Arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus -> median eminence and pituitary gland
Hormonal regulation, maternal behaviour, sensory processes
Recall the dopamine synthesis pathway
L-tyrosine converted to L-DOPA by tyrosine hydroxylase.
L-DOPA converted to dopamine by DOPA decarboxylase.
Packaged into vesicles using VMAT (vesicular monoamine transporter).
Which receptors are part of the D1-like family and what is the MOA?
D1 & D5 receptors
Activates adenyl cyclase -> increase cAMP
Which receptors are part of the D2-like family and what is the MOA?
D2, 3, 4 receptors
Inhibits adenyl cyclase -> decrease cAMP
What is the mean age of onset for PD?
65years
What are the cardinal signs of PD?
Resting tremor Bradykinesia Rigidity Postural abnormality [Reduced arm swing, shuffling gait, unilateral onset and then spreads to other side]
What are the motor signs of PD?
Pill-rolling rest tremor Difficulty of fine movements - micrographia Poverty of blinking Impassive face Monotomy of voice and tone Loss of arm swing Loss of balance - lack of righting reflex, retropulsion Short step, shuffling gait
What are the non-motor signs of PD?
Depression Sleep disturbances Pain Taste/smell disturbances Cognitive decline/dementia ANS: Constipation Postural hypotension Urinary frequency Impotence Increased sweating
What is the neuropathology of PD?
Principal area: substantia nigra
Other areas affected: locus coruleus, dorsal vagus nucleus, nucleus basalis of mynert
Loss of dopaminergic neurones
Loss of neuromelanin (i.e. pigmentation)
Pathway to putamen (as part of nigrostriatal) is mainly lost
Observation of Lewy bodies
What do lewy bodies consist of?
Packed of a-synuclein protein.
A-synuclein is responsible for anchoring the vesicle to the pre-synaptic membrane before release.
Therefore this affects neurotransmission in PD.
Briefly describe the PD staging
Stages 1-3 are pre symptomatic; affects the locus coeruleus, raphe nuclei, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus and substantial nigra.
Stage 4 &5: A-synuclein goes up brainstem and travels. Spreading of altered proteins is key process of disease.
What are the biochemical changes of PD?
Marked reduction of dopamine in caudate nucleus/putamen.