Cholinergics- Nicotinics Flashcards
Nicotinics
Actions similar to nicotine, corresponds to actions of ACh released at autonomic ganglia, neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle, and adrenal medulla
Nicotinic receptors
Ligand-dependent ion channels, allows Na and K flux down concentration gradient, depolarization, ionotropic
Types of nicotinic receptors
Nn- neuronal type, found in autonomic ganglia, blocked by ganglionic blockers
Nm- muscle typefound in neuromuscular junction, blocked by skeletal muscle relaxants
Nicotinic alkaloids
Both nicotine and lobeline are tertiary cholinomimetic alkaloids and well absorbed, excreted mostly by the kidneys, acidification of urine accelerates their clearance (weak bases)
Nicotine
Lipid-soluble, can be absorbed across the skin, indicated for assistance to smoking cessation
Lobeline
Plant derivative similar to nicotine, no clinical indication
Nicotinic choline esters
High affinity for nicotinic receptors, resistant to AChE, induces muscle paralysis during surgery by depolarizing blockade
Normal conditions
Agonists like ACh binds to nicotinic receptors and opens channels, AChE rapidly metabolize ACh, channels close
Depolarizing blockade
Succinylcholine (agonist) binds to nicotinic receptors and channels open, succinylcholine is resistant to metabolism, sticks around, causing channels to become unresponsive, prolonged presence causes channels to become less receptive and stay unresponsive
Nicotinic effects in CNS
Presynaptic nicotinic receptors regulate release of neurotransmitters (glutamate, serotonin, GABA, dopamine, norepinephrine), high concentration induces tremors, emesis, respiratory center stimulation, higher concentrations may cause convulsions and fatal coma
Clinical uses of nicotine
Direct-acting alkaloid, used for smoking cessation
Clinical uses of succinylcholine
Direct-acting choline ester, used for neuromuscular blockade during surgery, rapid sequence intubation
Side effects of nicotinics
Central stimulant- convulsions that may progress to coma and respiratory arrest
Skeletal muscle end plate depolarization- depolarization blockade and respiratory paralysis
Cardiovascular- hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias
Fatal dose of nicotine
Amount of nicotine in two regular cigarettes, most is destroyed by burning or escaping through second hand smoke
Function of ganglion blocking agents
Competitively block nicotinic receptors of parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic ganglia
Ganglion-blocking agents
Tetraethylammonium (TEA)- short duration of action, Hexamethonium (C6)- prototypical agent used experimentally, Decamethonium (C10)- analogue of hexamethonium, Mecamylamine, Trimethaphan
Mechanism of action of ganglion-blocking agents
Nondepolarizing competitive antagonists, hexamethonium binds directly to nicotinic ion channel, trimetaphan blocks the nicotinic receptor, not the channel pore
Effects of ganglion-blocking agents on the CNS
Mecamylamine crosses the BBB, causes sedation, temor, choreiform movements, mental aberrations, discontinued in 2009
Effects of ganglion-blocking agents in the eye
Cycloplegia with loss of accommodation because ciliary muscle receives primarily parasympathetic innervation, parasympathetic tone dominates the pupil, blockade causes moderate pupil dilation
Cardiovascular effects of ganglion-blocking agents
Blood vessels only innervated by sympathetics, blockade normally decreases arteriolar and venous tone, heart normally under parasympathetic innervation, blockade causes moderate tachycardia
Effects of ganglion-blocking agents on GI tract
Parasympathetic normally predominates, blockade reduces secretion, inhibits motility, causes constipation