Chapter 6: Drugs and Hormones Flashcards
What are qualities of some of the ways in which drugs are ingested?
orally: safest and easiest
Lung: straight in (no obstacles)
Stomach: acidic things
Intestine: basic things
What 3 areas are free from the BBB and thus are able to pass chemicals through?
1) Pituitary (hormones)
2) Area Postrema (vomiting reflex)
3) Pineal (day and night cycles)
What is the difference between an Agonist and an Antagonist?
Agonist: enhance synapse function (increase NT activity)
Antagonist: block synapse function (decrease NT activity)
What are the 3 types of tolerance? Describe each.
1) Metabolic: the number of enzymes needed to break it down increase and it is metabolized quickly; lower blood levels of it
2) Cellular: brain cell adjust to it and minimize its effects (less beh. with same blood level)
3) Learned: cope with the demands of being under the influence
Describe group 1 of psychoactive drugs
anti anxiety-agents: (benzodiazepines), pores open more for Cl- (depresses cells)
sedative hypnotics: (alcohol and barbiturates), pores open longer
- they both excite GABA receptors which inhibits the neurons because of an influx of Cl-
Describe group 2 of psychoactive drugs
they are antipsychotic agents and they typically block dopamine or serotonin receptors
What are the 3 antidepressant medications and what do they do? (group 3)
1) Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors: block from degrading serotonin and other NTs
2) Tricyclic: block serotonin reuptake
3) Second generation (SSRIs): similar to tricyclic, more selective blocking though
What do Opioid analgesics (group 4) do and what are the 3 natural sources?
they are both sleep inducing or pain relieving; natural source from the poppy or in the body (endorphin)
What do competitive inhibitors do?
block opioid action –> used to treat addiction and OD
What do behavioral stimulants (group 5) do and what are examples?
they increase motor activity, elevate mood and alertness; examples include amphetamines (releases dopamine and blocks reuptake) and cocaine
What do psychodelic and hallucinogenic stimulants (group 5) do and what are some examples?
alter sensation and perception, examples are LSD, mescaline and psilocybin
What is an example of a general stimulant and what does it do?
caffeine, acts on the cAMP NT which makes more glucose available
What is the wanting and liking theory of drug addiction?
it is based on the idea that cues cause desire for a drug which is motivated by dopamine release
Describe the hierarchical control of hormones
hypothalamus secretes neurohormones on the pituitary which secretes hormones in the circulatory system which take them to the endocrine glands which secrete hormones that provide feedback to the brain
What are the characteristics of steroid hormones and what are some examples?
they are fat soluble chemical messengers that are synthesized from cholesterol, they can influence transcription; cortisol and testosterone are examples
What are the characteristics of peptide hormones and what are examples?
they are synthesized in DNA and they affect the target cell’s physiology; insulin, growth hormones and endorphins are examples
What are the 3 main groups of the 2 types of hormones?
1) Homeostatic: regulate internal states
2) Gonadal: reproductive functions
3) Glucocorticoids: secreted in times of stress
What do Homeostatic hormones do and what is an example?
they regulate internal states; for example controlling blood sugar by insulin which turns glucose in to glycogen
What do gonadal hormones do?
they can affect the structure and function of the brain (left vs right in men and women); estrogen contributes to the masculinity of brains
What are anabolic-androgenic steroids?
They are related to testosterone and used for muscle building
What do glucocorticoids do?
They are secreted in response to stress and can control blood sugar and regulate metabolism
Compare the fast glucocorticoid response to a slow one
Fast: hypothalamus > sympathetic > adrenal medulla > epinephrine
Slow: hypothalamus > pituitary > adrenal > cortisol
What are some qualities of receptor binding in the brain?
it is reversible, it is saturable and it is like a lock and key type fit
What is functional drug tolerance?
decreased responsiveness at the site of action, fewer receptors or decreased binding efficiency
What part of the brain might be related to addiction and why?
the nucleus accumbens, because of the dopamine involvement there
What hallucinogens involve serotonin?
LSD and psilocybin
