BB2 Revision11 Flashcards
What are the three main molecular targets for cocaine? [3]
DA, NAd (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and 5-HT uptake systems
Name 3 selected genes involved in the vulnerability to develop opiate or cocaine addiction [3]
OPRM: Mu opoid receptor
OPRK: kappa opoid receptor
OPRD: delta opoid receptor
Probably don’t need to know in loads of detail
Describe the mesolimbic pathway that controls reward circuits in the brain [2]
Which NT controls this pathway? [1]
dopaminergic projection from the ventral tegmental area
to the nucleus accumbens is essential in reward and drug dependence
State two changes to brain metabolism in cocaine addicts [2]
Reduced availability of dopamine D2 receptors
Reduced cortical metabolism in cocaine abusers
How many units a week is alcohol abuse? [1]
14 units a week
Describe the effects of acute [2] and chronic [1] alcohol abuse on the brain [1]
Acute alcohol ingestion:
* leads to depressed excitatory transmission
* potentiated inhibitory transmission
Chronic:
* Shrinkage of brain grey matter in alcoholic patients
Release of which molecule drives the physchomotor effect of MDMA use? [1]
5-HT release
Behavioural effects co-incide with time course of 5-HT release
Describe the physiological consequence of long term MDMA use [1]
Describe three effects of brain function from long term MDMA use [3]
MDMA:
- glucose metabolism reduces
- Causes decreased learning perfomance, recall, recall consistency
Describe 6 effects that occur from acute MDMA toxicity [6]
Temperature elevation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Rhabdomyolysis (blocked by dantrolene)
Increased renal reabsorbtion of water
Hyponatraemia
Cerebral oedema
Describe impact of long term MDMA use on axons in brain [1]
Loss of serotonin axons after long term MDMA use
Cannabinoids bind to [] and [] receptors
Main agonist present in cannabis preparations: []
Cannabinoids bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors
Main agonist present in cannabis preparations: THC
Which drug can be used for reduction of alcohol consumption? [1]
Describe MoA [1]
nalmefene: opiate antagonist
Which of the following is ketamine’s target?
NMDA glutamate receptors
CB1 receptors
GABA-A receptors
5HT3 receptors
Which of the following is ketamine’s target?
NMDA glutamate receptors: antagonist
CB1 receptors
GABA-A receptors
5HT3 receptors
Which of the following are ethanol’s targets? [2]
NMDA glutamate receptors
CB1 receptors
GABA-A receptors
5HT3 receptors
Which of the following are ethanol’s targets? [2]
NMDA glutamate receptors
CB1 receptors
GABA-A receptors - agonist
5HT3 receptors
A 32-year-old male with opioid use disorder presents to the emergency department with chest pain radiating to the left arm. Pain is rated at 5/10 and described as tightness. Currently, he is not in pain, and his vital signs are stable. For his addiction, he is currently receiving methadone prescriptions with occasional relapses for over a year. Given the chronicity of his addiction, where would changes in the patient’s brain be expected, and what neurotransmitter would be involved?
A. Occipital lobe and serotonin
B. Temporal lobe and norepinephrine
C. Prefrontal region and dopamine
D. Wernicke’s area and dopamine
C. Prefrontal region and dopamine
A 24-year-old male patient is seen in the emergency department with paranoid behavior and agitation. He attended a party an hour ago but refused to disclose any further information. His blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg, heart rate is 130 bpm, respiratory rate 20/minute, and the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. ECG reveals wide QRS complexes suggestive of ventricular tachycardia. What drug was most likely ingested?
A. Heroin
B. Cocaine
C. Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy)
D. Phencyclidine (PCP)
B. Cocaine
Other than dopamine, which NTs become implicated in drug addiction / drug tking behaviour? [2]
gaba; glutamate
If an addict had an impaired ability to perform the following, which part of their brain is most likely to be affected? [1]
Attention and flexibility
Working memory
Decision making
Awareness and insight
Learning and memory
Salience attribution
prefrontal cortex
Explain an example of how chronic drug abuse can alter gene expression and therefore change brain structure [1
Chronic drug use causes an increase in the expression of expression of ΔFosB gene
Fos family of transcription factors, accumulates within a subset of neurons of the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum
FosB functions as a type of sustained “molecular switch” that gradually converts acute drug responses into relatively stable adaptations that contribute to the long-term neural and behavioral plasticity that underlies addiction.