Cholinergic Receptors and Agents Acting at the Neuromuscular Junction (Jose Paciano Reyes, MD) Flashcards
T/F: Choline entering a neuron via carrier-mediated transport is a rate-limiting step.
True
Acetylcholine is released into the neuromuscular junction through what mechanism?
Ca2+-mediated exocytosis
What is the rate of degradation of Ach in fast cholinergic synapses?
Less than or equal to 1 ms
T/F: Transmission mediated by nicotinic receptors is slower compared to muscarinic receptors.
False
It’s the other way around!
(1) is an antagonist to the nicotinic receptor, while (2) is an antagonist to the muscarinic receptor.
(1) Curare
(2) atropine
Where are nicotinic Ach receptors located?
Ganglia (blocked by hexamethonium)
CNS
NMJ (blocked by tubocurarine)
Where are muscarinic Ach receptors located?
M1 - gastric parietal cells
M2 - cardiac & smooth muscle cells
M3 - exocrine glands and smooth muscles
T/F: Nicotinic cholinergic receptors mediate fast EPSPs.
True
What are the two types of nicotinic Ach receptor?
Neuromuscular and ganglional (8 subtypes of alpha and 4 subtypes of beta)
Enumerate the agonists of the neuromuscular nicotinic Ach receptor
Ach
Carbamylcholine (Cch)
Suxamethonium
Decamethonium
Enumerate the agonists of the ganglional nicotinic Ach receptor
Ach Carbamylcholine (Cch) Nicotine Lobeline Cystisine Epibatidine DMPP
Enumerate the antagonists of the neuromuscular nicotinic Ach receptor
Tubocurarine Pancuronium Atacurium Vecuronium alpha-bungarotoxin
Enumerate the antagonists of the ganglional nicotinic Ach receptor
Trimetaphan
Mecamyline
Hexamethonium
Describe the action of alpha-bungarotoxin
It blocks postsynaptic nicotinic receptors
Describe the action of beta-bungarotoxin
It blocks the presynaptic release of neurotransmitters (similar to botox)
Which cytoplasmic loop in the muscarinic Ach receptor is linked to the G protein?
3rd
T/F: Organophosphates are medium-acting, carbamates are long-acting and edrophoniums are very short-acting drug
False
Organophosphate - long-acting
Carbamates - medium-acting
Enumerate the types of indirect-acting cholinomimetic drugs
Edrophonium
Carbamates
Organophosphates
Enumerate the types of direct-acting muscarinic cholinomimetic drugs
Choline esters
Alkaloids
T/F: Choline esters are relatively insoluble in lipids and contain a quaternary ammonium group.
True
What are the only choline esters given orally
Betanechol and methacholine
This is due to the presence of a beta-methyl group (reduces potency at nicotinic receptor).
What are examples of choline esters?
Acetylcholine
Methacholine
Carbachol
Bethanecol (given to patients w/ incontinence)
What are examples of alkaloids?
Pilocarpine
Nicotine
Lobeline
These are tertiary amines of plant origin.
T/F: Muscarine, a quaternary amine, is less completely absorbed from the GI tract.
True
Alkaloids are chiefly excreted in the (1), enhanced with (2) of the urine.
(1) kidney
(2) acidification
What is the duration of action of Ach?
5 - 30 seconds
What are the spectra of action of the different cholinomimetic drugs?
Ach - both Bethanecol - M Carbachol - B Pilocarpine - N Nicotine - N Varenicline - N
What drug is used for glaucoma as eye drops and has a duration of action of 30 mins to 2 hours?
Pilocarpine
What is the duration of action of nicotine?
1 - 6 hours
T/F: Varenicline is a partila agonist with a duration of 12 - 24 hours
True
What is given to patients to reduce longing for nicotine?
Varenicline
What mediates the dilation of arteries and veins?
EDRF
What drug blocks the overdose of cholinomimetic drugs that normally leads to diarrhoea?
Loperamide
Brain has more (1) receptors, while the spinal cord has more (2) receptors.
(1) muscarinic
(2) nicotinic
Describe the effect of nicotine on the CVS, GI and GU.
CVS - sympathetic
GI and GU - parasympathetic
Which has a broader substrate specificity - acetylcholinesterase or buterylcholinesterase?
Buterylcholinesterase
What drug is used to diagnose myasthenia gravis?
Edrophonium (quaternary alcohol)
What is the duration of action of edrophonium?
10 minutes (very short-acting)
Enumerate the medium-duration anticholinesterases
Neostigmine
Pyridostigmine
Physostigmine
These are carbamic acid esters of alcohol
T/F: Medium-duration anticholinesterases are maintenance drugs for myasthenia gravis and IV forms reverse neuromuscular block.
True