CNS case discussion Flashcards
What is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in brain?
Glutamate
What is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain?
GABA
How is neurotransmitter release triggered?
Action potential depolarises membrane and causes calcium channels to open. Ca2+ influx causes exocytosis of neurotransmitter from presynaptic cleft
What happens to a neurotransmitter after acted on post-synaptic terminal? Why?
Reuptake
Or degradation by enzymes
Prevent constant neurone stimulation
What are the 3 mechanism by which AEDs have their seizure suppressing action?
Enhance action of GABA
Reduce action of glutamate
Modulate movement of ions
What is the MOA for phenobarbital?
Enhance action of GABA
Also has glutamate and Ca channel effects
What do you need to be aware of when administering drug treatments whilst on phenobarbital?
Highly protein bound
Enhances metabolism
Decreases effect of many drugs (e.g. corticosteroids, B blockers)
What are the 3 pathways for pain transmission?
Spinothalmic
Spinoreticular
Spinocervicular (not humans)
Nociceptor sends transmission to spinal cord, enter spine via dorsal root ganglia. Not heavily myelinated tracts. They decussate. Always travel through thalamus
What is the pathway for pain transition in the spinothalamic pathway?
From spine to thalamus
What is the pathway for pain transmission in the spinoreticular pathway?
Spinal cord - reticular formation - thalamus
What is the pathway of pain transmission in the spinocervicular pathway?
Thalamus subnuclei - cerebellum - medial meniscus - lateral cervical nucleus
Which class of sedatives are often administered to seizing patients? Why is this drug classed not used as a 1st choice in healthy animals?
Benzodiazepines Paradoxical excitement (hyperactive) and not licensed
What drug would be used for premedication of an epileptic patient?
Alpha 2 agonist - analgesic effect. Antagonists can be used to reverse
What is the MOA of alpha 2 agonists in the CNS and PNS?
In CNS acts as sympatholytic - binds to presynaptic receptors, not postsynaptic –> sedation effect
In PNS act as sympathomimetic –> vasoconstriction –> reduced HR due to baroreflex (try to reduce BP)
What is the MOA of phenothiazines?
Antagonist of a2, histamine, dopamine, serotonin and more