Antipsychotics

Question 1

Where are amine transmitters localised to in the CNS?

Answer 1

Brain stem and basal forebrain

Question 2

What are the brain stem and basal forebrain functions associated with?

Answer 2

“High level behaviours”, e.g emotion, cognition and awareness

Question 3

What are noradrenaline α1 receptors associated with?

Answer 3

Motor control
Cognition
Fear

Question 4

What are noradrenaline α2 receptors associated with?

Answer 4

Blood regulation
Sedation
Analgesia

Question 5

Where are noradrenaline β1 receptors located and what effects do they have?

Answer 5

Cortex, striatum and hippocampus
Contributes to antidepressant long term effects

Question 6

What does the locus caureleous control?

Answer 6

Controls wakefulness and alertness
Controls mood

Question 7

What are mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways associated with?

Answer 7

Stereotypic behaviours
Increased mesolimbic- positive symptoms, D2 activity
Decreased mesocortical- negative symptoms

Question 8

What is the nigrostriatal pathway associated with?

Answer 8

Fine motor control

Question 9

What is the tuberohypophyseal pathway associated with?

Answer 9

Prolactin secretion from the pituitary

Question 10

What enzymes are involed with breakdown of neurotransmitters?

Answer 10

MAO and COMT

Question 11

Where are dopamine neurons lost in parkinsons disease

Answer 11

Nigrostriatal pathway
Substantia nigra

Question 12

What dopamine receptors are found in the cortex?

Answer 12

Gs: D1 and D5

Question 13

What dopamine receptors are found in the pituitary and DA neurons?

Answer 13

Gi: D2, D3 and D4

Question 14

What do Gs dopamine receptors stimulate?

Answer 14

Adenylyl cyclase -> cAMP, PKA

Question 15

What do Gi dopamine receptors stimulate?

Answer 15

Inhibit adenylyl cyclase
Activate potassium channels
Deactivate voltage gated calcium channels
Oppose D1 activation effects

Question 16

What is the mechanism of amphetamines?

Answer 16

Displace DA and NA from vesicles, causing re-uptake

Question 17

What are amphetamine-like drugs used to treat?

Answer 17

ADHD and narcolepsy

Question 18

What is the mechanism of cocaine?

Answer 18

Inhibits DA transporters back into nerve terminals. This leads to an increase in motor activity

Question 19

What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 19

Hallucinations
Paranoia
Defective selective attention
Stereotypic activity
Aggression
(Hallucinations and craziness)

Question 20

What are the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 20

Blunting of emotions
Withdrawal from social contacts
Reluctance to perform everyday tasks

Question 21

What can cause schizophrenia?

Answer 21

Hereditary abnormalities arising in early life
Cannabis consumption in adolescence combined with genetic predisposition

Question 22

What can be used to treat the positive symptoms of schizophenia?

Answer 22

D2 receptor antagonists

Question 23

How do brains of schizophrenia patients compare to non schizophrenic brains?

Answer 23

Larger lateral ventricles
Less tissue ion the left temporal lobe

Question 24

What sort of drug is LSD?

Answer 24

Serotonin receptor agonist

Question 25

Outline the dopamine theory of schizophenia

Answer 25

1. Amphetamines mimic behaviours similar to schizophrenia
2. Hallucinations are a side effect
3. D2 receptor agonists in animals produces stereotypic behaviours
4. DA antagonists and DA vesicle disruptors control positive symptoms

Question 26

What were the side effects of first generation antipsychotics?

Answer 26

Motor disturbances
Prolactin secretion

Question 27

List some side effects of neuroleptics

Answer 27

Parkinson’s-like symptoms
Acute dystonias (muscle spasms) which slowly become irreversible
Increased prolactin release
Sedation
hypotension
Weight gain