Autonomic Pharmacology Flashcards
What is the rate limiting step of synthesis of ACh?
Uptake of choline via transporter (CHT)
What is ACh synthesised from and by which enzyme?
Choline and AcCoA by choline acetyl transferase
What happens to ACh once it has been synthesised?
Stored in vesicle via a transporter
What happens after depolarisation via an action potential?
Ca influx via voltage activated Ca channels
Ca induced release of ACh from vesicles
Once ACh has been released from vesicles via exocytosis what happens?
Activation of ACh receptors (nicotinic or muscarinic) causing cellular response
What is responsible for the termination of cholinergic transmission?
Degradation of ACh to choline and acetate by AChe
Describe skeletal muscle ACh receptors
2 a1
1 y
1 sigma E
1 b1
Describe ganglionic ACh receptors
2a3
3B4
What is the primary cause of cholinergic excitatory transmission at ganglia ?
Caused by ACh release from preganglionic neurones that activate cation-selective receptors of the postganglionic neurone cell body to elicit excitatory postsypnaptic potential (epsp)
What are most postganglionic neurones innervated by?
Most parasympathetic and sympathetic postganglionic neurones are innervated by several presynaptic fibres
Why are ganglion blockers obsolete?
Because they have a constellation of effects
How can blockade of cholinergic transmission be achieved?
- Depolarisation block by high concentrations of agonists (e.g. nicotine)
- Competitive antagonism (e.g. trimetaphan)
- non-competitive antagonism
Give an example of a drug which blocks cholinergic transmission of ganglia non-competitively
Hexamethonium
What are M1, M2 and M3 coupled to?
Gq, Gi, Gq
Describe the effect of M1 GPCR at parasympathetic neuroeffector junctions?
Gq stimulates phospholipase C and increases acid secretion in the stomach
Describe the effect of M2 GPCR at parasympathetic neuroeffector junctions?
Gi inhibits adenylyl cyclase; opening K+ channels this decreases heart rate
Describe the effect of M3 GPCR at parasympathetic neuroeffector junctions?
Gq stimulates phospholipase C and increases saliva secretion and contracts visceral smooth muscle
What is the effect of M3 on vascular smooth muscle?
Indirectly relaxed by M3 receptor activation via NO
Describe the differences between noradrenergic transmission at sympathetic neuroeffector junctions in comparison to cholinergic transmission at parasympathetic neuroeffector junctions
NA not ACh
ACh is degraded into choline and acetate to terminate transmission vs NA is reuptaken by U1 on neurone and U2 on effector cell
NA is metabolised by MAO in the neurone and COMT in the effector cell
NA effector cel is cardiac and smooth muscle vs ACh smooth muscle, gland cell
Which GPCR are involved at sympathetic neuroeffector junctions?
B1, B2, a1, a2
Describe the function of B1
Coupled to Gs
Stimulates adenylyl cyclase
Increased heart rate and force
Describe the function of B2
Coupled to Gs
Stimulates adenylyl cyclase
Relaxes bronchial and vascular smooth muscle
Describe the function of a1
Coupled to Gq
Stimulation of phospholipase C
Contraction of vascular smooth muscle
Describe the function of a2
Coupled to Gi
Inhibits adenylyl cyclase
Inhibition of NA release
Presynaptic autoreceptors mediate ——– ——– ——— of transmitter release.
——– decrease release, ———- increase release
Presynaptic autoreceptors mediate negative feedback inhibition of transmitter release. Agonists decrease release, antagonists increase release
Explain how cocaine works?
Blocks U1 on nerve terminal of sympathetic post-ganglionic neurone
Increases the amount of NA in the synaptic cleft, resulting in increased stimulation of adrenoreceptors
Describe the peripheral actions of cocaine
Vasoconstriction (a1) Cardiac arrhythmias (B1)
Explain how amphetamine works?
Substrate for U1 on nerve terminal of sympathetic post-ganglionic neurone and inhibits MAO, enters the synaptic vesicle and displaces NA into the cytoplasm. NA works backwards of U1 and accumulates in cleft causing increased adrenorecptor stimulation
Describe the action of Prazosin
Selective, competitive, antagonist of a1. Does not block a2, b1, or b2. Vasodilator used as an anti-hypertensive agent
Describe the action of Atenolol
Selective, competitive, antagonist of b1. Does not block b2, a1, or a2. Used as an anti-anginal and anti-hypertensive agent
Describe the action of salbutamol
Selective agonist at b2. Does not activate, b1, a1, or a2.
Used as a bronchodilator in asthma
Describe the action of
atropine
Competitive antagonist of muscarinic ACh receptors, does not block nicotinic ACh receptors. Blocks all muscarinic ACh receptors with equal affinity (1, 2, 3) – exerts widespread effects by blockade of the parasympathetic division of the ANS
Used to reverse bradycardia following MI and in anticholinesterase poisioning
List the divisions of the ANS
Enteric
Sympathetic
Parasympathetic
List the divisions of the PNS and their functions
Somatic efferent (i.e. motor fibres to skeletal muscle)
Autonomic (ANS) motor and sensory components
Somatic afferent (i.e sensory fibres from skin and skeletal muscle)
List some ANS reflexes that can be trained?
micturition, defecation via voluntary control of skeletal muscle external sphincters of the urethra and anus commanded by somatic efferents)
(focus of the lens, for near vision) can be voluntarily controlled, despite it being an autonomic function
Describe the organisation of the motor ANS
Preganglionic neurone, ganglion outside CNS, post ganglionic neurone which terminates at effector cells
What is the transmitter of preganglionic neurones sympathetic/parasympathetic
ACh acting via excitatory nicotinic cholinoceptors