Autonomic Pharmacology Flashcards
What are the principle NTs in the ANS?
Acetylcholine
Noradrenaline
How is the CNS connected to sweat glands?
CNS -> ACh (nic) -> ACh (mus) -> sweat glands (sympathetic system)
How is the CNS connected to blood vessels?
CNS -> ACh (nic) -> NA -> blood vessels (sympathetic)
How is the CNS connected to the adrenal medulla?
CNS -> ACh (nic) -> adrenal medulla (sympathetic)
How is the CNS connected to salivary glands?
CNS -> ACh (nic) -> ACh (mus) -> salivary glands (parasympathetic)
Which receptors do ACh and NA act on?
nAChRs, mAChRs, alpha and beta adrenoreceptors
What is cAMP?
Second messenger
Moves freely in cytoplasm
What are kinases?
Add phosphates to molecules/proteins
What do G-Alpha-S proteins do?
Stimulatory G protein that changes cAMP and protein kinase A levels
- Increases adenylyl cyclase activity
- Increases [cAMP]
- Activates protein kinase A (PKA)
Mediated by alpha G protein subunits
What do G-Alpha-i proteins do?
Inhibitory G protein that changes cAMP and protein kinase A levels
- Decreases adenylyl cyclase activity
- Decreases [cAMP]
- Decreases PKA
- Increased K+ channel opening
What do G-Alpha-q proteins do?
Increases intracellular Ca2+ levels through Phospholipase C enzyme
- Increases PLC
- Increases IP3 + DAG
- Increases [Ca2+] + Protein kinase C (PKC)
Mediated by alpha G protein subunits
Which G protein subunits mediate Gi action?
Alpha - Inhibits adenylyl cyclase
Beta-Gamma - Activates K+ channels
What type are muscarinic receptors?
Cholinergic
Where are muscarinic receptors located structurally?
Postsynaptic to parasympathetic ganglion neurones and sweat glands
Which mAChR subtypes couple to Gq proteins?
M1, M3, M5
Which mAChR subtypes couple to Gi proteins?
M2, M4
Where are M2 receptors found?
Heart - Nodal tissue and Atria
Widely distributed in CNS
Where are M3 receptors found?
Exocrine glands - e.g. salivary
Smooth muscle - GI tract, eye, airways, bladder
Blood vessels - endothelium
What response do M2 receptors cause?
Cardiac inhibition
- Decreased heart rate
- Slowing of AV conduction
- Decreased force of contraction (atria only)
What response do M3 receptors cause?
Gastric, salivary secretion
GI smooth muscle contraction
What is the mechanism for decreasing heart rate?
- M2 receptor activation via ACh
- Gai protein activation
- By subunits open K+ channels
- Increased K+ moving out of nodal cell
- More negative membrane potential (hyperpolarisation)
What does M1 and M3 AChR activation cause?
Stimulates contraction of smooth muscle
- Bronchoconstriction
- GI motility
- Bladder voiding - urination
Stimulates secretion from exocrine glands?
- Mucus in lungs
- Lacrimal glands - tears
- Salivary glands
- Sweat glands
What are the effects of muscarine?
- Decrease blood pressure
- Increase saliva
- Increase tearflow
- Increase sweating
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
Overdose = death from cardiac + respiratory failure
What is atropine?
Non-selective mAChR antagonist
- Blocks all muscarinic receptors