Cholinergic transmission Flashcards
What are the major processes that can be affected by drugs during cholinergic transmission?
- ACh synthesis
- ACh release
- ACh receptor binding
- ACh breakdown
- Breakdown product re-uptake
Which drugs affect ACh systhesis?
Triethylcholine: Competitive antagonist for choline acetyltransferase (CAT)
Which drugs affect ACh vesicular transport?
Vesamicol: Reversibly (but non-competitively) inhibits VAChT and prevents ACh loading into vesicles. Inhibits ACh release.
Which drugs affect ACh release?
- Botulinum toxin: Several isoforms all cut SNARE complex at different sites. Inhibits ACh release.
- Tetanus toxin: Degrades synpatobrevin. Inhibits ACh release.
- α-Latrotoxin: Causes massive uncontrolled discharge of ACh from nerve terminals and depletes ACh. Inhibits ACh release.
- β-bungarotoxin: Causes activation of phospholipase A2, leading to destruction of pre-synaptic nerve terminal. Inhibits ACh release.
Why does repeated use of botox result in decline in activity?
Botox is antigenic and neutralising antibodies eventually develop
Which drugs affect ACh re-uptake?
Hemicholinium: Inhibits Na+-dependent choline transporters (ChT) and thus inhibits choline re-uptake. This decreases amount of choline available for ACh synthesis and thus decreases ACh availability. Inhibits ACh release.
Which types of drugs affect ACh receptors?
- Neuromuscular-blocking drugs (nicotinic receptor antagonists)
- Ganglion stimulating/blocking drugs
- Muscarinic receptor agonists/antagonists
What are the types of neuromusclular-blocking drugs?
- Depolarising blocking agents
- Non-depolarising blocking agents
What are the depolarising blocking drugs?
- Suxamethonium
- Decamethonium
What is the mechanism of action of non-depolarising NMJ blockers?
All non-depolarising drugs are competitive antagonists of nAChRs (but more selective for N1).
What are the non-depolarising blocking drugs?
- Clinically significant compounds include:
1. Pancuronium
2. Vecuronium
3. Atracurium
4. Mivacurium - Clinically insignificant compounds include:
1. Curare
2. D-tubocurarine
What is a non-reversible NMJ blocker?
α-bungarotoxin: Blocks nAChRs irreversibly in NMJ
What is the mechanism of action of ganglion-stimulating drugs?
nAChR agonists that bind selectively to N2 receptors in parasympathetic ganglia.
What are the ganglion stimulating drugs?
- Nicotine
- Lobeline
- Epibatidine
- Varenicline (clinically used to aid in nicotine withdrawal)
What is the mechanism of action of ganglion-blocking drugs?
All ganglion bocking drugs are nAChR antagonists specific for N2 ACh receptors.
What are the gangion blocking drugs?
- Hexamethonium
- Trimethapan