Applied Neuro-pharmacology Flashcards
How do local anaesthetics work?
Block voltage gated Na+ channels
Blocks all synaptic transmission
How do spider toxins work?
Block voltage gated Ca2+ channels
Blocks transmitter release
How does botulinum toxin work?
Blocks the release machinery
Blocks transmitter release
How do receptor antagonists work?
Block postsynaptic receptors
What are some other ways to reduce synaptic transmission?
Activate presynaptic inhibitory receptors
Increase breakdown of transmitter
Increase uptake of transmitter
Inhibit synthesis and packaging of transmitter
How could precursors be useful in manipulating synaptic transmission?
Flooding cells with the appropriate precursors could increase synaptic transmission
What is the effect of benzodiazepines and barbiturates on GABA receptors?
Allosteric drugs which potentiate the effects of the endogenous transmitter
What is the effect of anticholinesterases?
Blocks breakdown of transmitter Ach
Increases transmission
What class of neurotansmitters do noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin fall under?
Monoamines
List some examples of amino acid neurotransmitter.
Glutamate
GABA
Glycine
Give some examples of purines.
ATP
Adenosine
What are some examples of neuropeptides?
Endorphins
CCK
Substance P
What is the difference between analgesia and anaesthetic?
Analgesia is pain relief without loss of consciousness and without total loss of feeling or movement; anaesthesia is defined as the loss of physical sensation with or without loss of consciousness.
What are some unique characteristics of each neurotransmitter?
Anatomical distribution
Range of receptors it acts on
Range of functions in different regions
What is the anatomical distribution of dopamine in the brain?
Brain stem
Basal ganglia
Limbic system
Frontal cortex
What physiological functions are affected by dopamine?
Voluntary movement
Emotions/reward
Vomiting
Impairment of which pathway is relevant to cognitive deficit in PD?
Mesocortical
Which pathway plays a key role in reward and addiction?
Mesolimbic
Impairment of which pathway leads to increased incidence of schizophrenia and hallucination in PD?
Mesolimbic
What effect does PD have on DA in the brain?
Degeneration of DA cells in the substantia nigra
DA deficiency in basal ganglia
What is the final product of dopamine metabolic breakdown?
Homovanillic acid
What is levodopa?
DA precursor
Dopaminergic drug
What does carbidopa do?
Peripheral AAAD inhibitor
Stops DOPA to dopamine
Reduces peripheral side effects of levodopa and allows greater proportion of the oral dose to reach the CNS
What do MAO-B inhibitors do?
Stop DA to DOPAC
Prevents breakdown of dopamine
What symptoms may dopaminergic drugs improve?
Some motor features of PD such as rigidity, bradykinesia and tremor
What symptoms may dopaminergic drugs worsen or even cause?
Nausea
Vomiting
Psychosis
Impulsivity
What symptoms may dopamine antagonists improve?
Nausea
Vomiting
Psychosis
What kind of drug can worsen or even cause parkinsonism?
Dopamine antagonists
What are the benefits of Domperidone as a DA antagonist antiemetic?
Does not cross BBB so will not worsen PD
What adverse effect may dopaminergic drugs have on movement?
May cause dyskinesias like chorea
“Too much movement”
What adverse effect may DA antagonists have on movement?
May cause parkinsonism
“Not enough movement”
How do tricyclic antidepressants affect noradrenaline?
Prevent re-uptake
