Chapter 6: Drugs and Hormones

Question 1

What are qualities of some of the ways in which drugs are ingested?

Answer 1

orally: safest and easiest
Lung: straight in (no obstacles)
Stomach: acidic things
Intestine: basic things

Question 2

What 3 areas are free from the BBB and thus are able to pass chemicals through?

Answer 2

1) Pituitary (hormones)
2) Area Postrema (vomiting reflex)
3) Pineal (day and night cycles)

Question 3

What is the difference between an Agonist and an Antagonist?

Answer 3

Agonist: enhance synapse function (increase NT activity)
Antagonist: block synapse function (decrease NT activity)

Question 4

What are the 3 types of tolerance? Describe each.

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Describe group 1 of psychoactive drugs

Answer 5

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-

Question 6

Describe group 2 of psychoactive drugs

Answer 6

they are antipsychotic agents and they typically block dopamine or serotonin receptors

Question 7

What are the 3 antidepressant medications and what do they do? (group 3)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What do Opioid analgesics (group 4) do and what are the 3 natural sources?

Answer 8

they are both sleep inducing or pain relieving; natural source from the poppy or in the body (endorphin)

Question 9

What do competitive inhibitors do?

Answer 9

block opioid action –> used to treat addiction and OD

Question 10

What do behavioral stimulants (group 5) do and what are examples?

Answer 10

they increase motor activity, elevate mood and alertness; examples include amphetamines (releases dopamine and blocks reuptake) and cocaine

Question 11

What do psychodelic and hallucinogenic stimulants (group 5) do and what are some examples?

Answer 11

alter sensation and perception, examples are LSD, mescaline and psilocybin

Question 12

What is an example of a general stimulant and what does it do?

Answer 12

caffeine, acts on the cAMP NT which makes more glucose available

Question 13

What is the wanting and liking theory of drug addiction?

Answer 13

it is based on the idea that cues cause desire for a drug which is motivated by dopamine release

Question 14

Describe the hierarchical control of hormones

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What are the characteristics of steroid hormones and what are some examples?

Answer 15

they are fat soluble chemical messengers that are synthesized from cholesterol, they can influence transcription; cortisol and testosterone are examples

Question 16

What are the characteristics of peptide hormones and what are examples?

Answer 16

they are synthesized in DNA and they affect the target cell’s physiology; insulin, growth hormones and endorphins are examples

Question 17

What are the 3 main groups of the 2 types of hormones?

Answer 17

1) Homeostatic: regulate internal states
2) Gonadal: reproductive functions
3) Glucocorticoids: secreted in times of stress

Question 18

What do Homeostatic hormones do and what is an example?

Answer 18

they regulate internal states; for example controlling blood sugar by insulin which turns glucose in to glycogen

Question 19

What do gonadal hormones do?

Answer 19

they can affect the structure and function of the brain (left vs right in men and women); estrogen contributes to the masculinity of brains

Question 20

What are anabolic-androgenic steroids?

Answer 20

They are related to testosterone and used for muscle building

Question 21

What do glucocorticoids do?

Answer 21

They are secreted in response to stress and can control blood sugar and regulate metabolism

Question 22

Compare the fast glucocorticoid response to a slow one

Answer 22

Fast: hypothalamus > sympathetic > adrenal medulla > epinephrine
Slow: hypothalamus > pituitary > adrenal > cortisol

Question 23

What are some qualities of receptor binding in the brain?

Answer 23

it is reversible, it is saturable and it is like a lock and key type fit

Question 24

What is functional drug tolerance?

Answer 24

decreased responsiveness at the site of action, fewer receptors or decreased binding efficiency

Question 25

What part of the brain might be related to addiction and why?

Answer 25

the nucleus accumbens, because of the dopamine involvement there

Question 26

What hallucinogens involve serotonin?

Answer 26

LSD and psilocybin