Applied Neuro-Pharmacology

Question 1

Synthesis and packaging of neurotransmitter usually occurs in

Answer 1

presynaptic terminals

Question 2

Na+ action potential invades the terminal and activates

Answer 2

voltage gated Ca2+ channels

Question 3

Activation of Ca2+ channels triggers

Answer 3

calcium dependent exocytosis of pre-packaged vesicles of neurotransmitter

Question 4

Neurotransmitter diffuses across the cleft and binds to

Answer 4

ionotropic and/or metabotropic receptors to evoke postsynaptic response

Question 5

Presynaptic autoreceptors inhibit

Answer 5

further transmitter release

Question 6

Acetylcholine receptors

Answer 6

Nicotinic

Muscarinic

Question 7

Serotonin receptors

Answer 7

5-HT

Question 8

Dopamine receptors

Answer 8

D1, D2, D3, D4, D5

Question 9

Noradrenaline receptors

Answer 9

Adrenergic

Question 10

GABA receptors

Answer 10

GABAA, GABAB

Question 11

Glycine receptors

Answer 11

NMDA

Question 12

Tyramine receptors

Answer 12

TA1

Question 13

Glutamate receptors

Answer 13

NMDA

Question 14

What effect will pharmacologically blocking voltage gated Na+ channels have?

Answer 14

e.g. local anaesthetics

Will block action potentials of all neurones in that region so reduce synaptic transmission

Question 15

What effect will pharmacologically blocking voltage gated Ca2+ channels have?

Answer 15

e.g. spider toxins
Will block all transmitter release, stopping Ca from entering presynaptic terminals and stopping transmitter release
Block all synaptic transmission

Question 16

How could you increase synaptic transmission pharmacologically?

Answer 16

Increase synthesis 
Use an agonist to activate postsynaptic receptors 
Use allosteric drug to activate receptor
Block breakdown of transmitter 
Block uptake of transmitter

Question 17

What effect will using an allosteric drug that activates the receptor have?

Answer 17

Potentiate effects of endogenous transmitter on receptor
Increase channel open time
Increase synaptic transmission

Question 18

Why does a single neurotransmitter have multiple functions in different regions?

Answer 18

Limited range of neurotransmitters

Question 19

Dopamine is anatomically distributed in what 3 main areas of the brain?

Answer 19

Brain stem
Basal ganglia
Limbic system and frontal cortex

Question 20

What are the physiological functions affected by dopamine in its anatomical distributions?

Answer 20

Brain stem - vomiting
Basal ganglia - voluntary movement
Limbic system and frontal cortex - emotions

Question 21

Why won’t dopamine work if given orally/IV?

Answer 21

Neurotransmitters cannot cross the blood-brain barrier

Question 22

Why can’t dopamine evoke fast EPSPs or IPSPs?

Answer 22

It has no ionotropic receptors

Question 23

Dopaminergic drugs

Answer 23

Levodopa 
Bromocriptine/pergolide 
Ropinirole 
Pramipexole 
Apomorphine

Question 24

Enzyme inhibitors which can be given with dopaminergic drugs

Answer 24

Peripheral AAAD inhibitors e.g. carbidopa
MAO-B inhibitors e.g. selegiline
COMT inhibitors e.g. entacapone

Question 25

Effects of dopaminergic drugs

Answer 25

Can improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms but can worsen/cause nausea, vomiting and psychosis