CNS week 1 + 2 +3 Flashcards
identify key structures in the CNS
- cell body w nucleus of neurones
-axon
-myelin
-dendrite
-synapse (multiple on each neurone)
what are the key features of the synapse related to drug function?
- pre synaptic neuron
- post synaptic neuron
-synaptic cleft - neurotransmitters diffuse across the cleft due to influx of calcium
- binds to two type of receptors (ionotropic + GPCR)
what are some difficulties with drug delivery or targeting in the CNS?
- The Blood brain barrier (BBB)
- no fenestra and contain tight junctions
- drugs used are rarely selective
- diagnosing problems
-synapses can change - adaptive - tolerance and dependence to drugs
features of ionotropic receptors - excitatory synapses
transmitter depolarizes and excites
inward positive current (e.g. influx of Na+)
excitatory postsynaptic potential - neurotransmitters are glutamate, aspartate and acetyl choline.
features of inhibitory ionotropic receptors
transmitter hyperpolarizes and inhibits
inwards current is negative e.g. influx of Cl-
inhibitory postsynaptic potential - neurotransmitters are GABA and glycine.
main excitatory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
key features of GCPR
- coupled to G - proteins
- can be linked to ion channels
-linked to enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C
-many different types of neurotransmitters - has a second messenger
main inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA
what are the key processes by which drugs alter neurotransmission
- precursors (getting raw materials) and biosynthesis of making NTs
-storage of NT in vesicles of golgi bodies
-transport via microtubules - docking due to influx of calcium allows for exocytosis
-cross synaptic gap
-bind to postsynaptic receptors or reuptake mechanisms to recover NT - deactivation
how do neurones work and neurotransmission occurs
- generation of action potential by depolarization when reaching threshold by the movement of sodium in and potassium out. (via sodium/potassium ATPase pump or ion channels)
- starts at -70mv, threshold is -50mv.
- action potential is then generated.
-leads to release of neurotransmitter across synaptic cleft.
outline the pharmacological targets for CNS drugs
ionotropic receptors (voltage or ligand gated)
metabotropic receptors GPCRs
NT reuptake receptors
enzymes
what is use dependence?
targeting open-active confirmation or open-inactive confirmation
what is allosteric modulation?
non- competitive antagonism such as glutamate on a allosteric site.
what is the fate of the NT
- bind to receptors pre or post
-diffuse out of synaptic cleft to other cells
-metabolise/degrade by enzymes
-reuptake by pre-synaptic transporters
define epilepsy
when ordinary brain activity is disrupted spontaneously and recurrently
classify the different kinds of epileptic seizures
Generalised and Focal (partial)
Generalised - seizure activity involves both hemispheres of the brain
Focal - starts in one area of the brain + retains awareness but can evolve to bilateral convulsions
describe how a diagnosis is made for epilepsy and understand the prognosis
- diagnosis is difficult and requires reliable account + use of EEG, MRI/and or CT
- good prognosis (70-80% become seizure free, 50% withdraw from meds, 20-30% have chronic epilepsy, usually normal function between seizures, 5% will not be able to live alone)
describe the basis of epileptogenesis in relation to balance in neuronal networks
occurs when there is an imbalance of excitatory vs inhibitory neurones firing so the synaptic balance is disrupted. Can either be too much excitation and normal inhibition, too low inhibition and normal excitation or too low inhibition and too high excitation.
what is the MOA of anti-epileptic drugs?
inhibit abnormal neuronal discharge in epilepsy but don’t resolve the underlying cause
Decrease excitatory mechanisms:
(1) inhibition of Na channel function
(1) inhibition of Ca channel function
(2) directly inhibit glutamate neurotransmission
Increase inhibitory brain mechanism:
(3) enhancement of GABA action (decrease GABA inactivation, increase GABA levels or enhance postsynaptic response)
what is the clinical basis for the use of the most common anti-epileptic drugs?
- to decrease freq or severity of seizures
- treat symptoms not the condition
- goal is to maximise quality of life by minimising seizures and S/E
what are some practical clinical aspects of epilepsy management?
-surgery
-antiepileptic drugs
-vagus nerve stimulation with a pacemaker
- deep brain stimulation
-ketogenic diets
types of generalised seizures and their characteristics
Tonic - clonic convulsions (most common, patient stiffens, falls + convulses, hyper-salivation, tongue biting, lasts a few mins, followed by headache)
Tonic (stiffening of body - head, typically when falling asleep)
Clonic (jerking movements, +/- impairment of consciousness, simultaneous involvement of arms and legs)
Absence attacks (petit mal) (rarer almost exclusively in childhood, goes blank, last a few seconds, child may not be aware of it)
Myoclonic seizures (brief, involuntary jerks, involve head, limbs or whole body, immediate recovery, not always epilepsy)
Atonic seizures (sudden loss of muscle tone, quick recovery, very rare)
Types of focal seizures
simple focal (abnormal discharge remains localised, consciousness not impaired, will be the same each time in each person)
Complex focal (automatic behaviours, confusion apparent drunkenness)
Secondarily generalised seizures (simple or complex focal that spreads to whole brain leads to tonic-clonic attack)
what is status epilepticus?
a serious uncontrolled seizure that lasts for 5 mins or more or one tonic-clonic seizure followed by another without the person regaining consciousness in between.
define mood disorders and their classifications
mood disorders:
Unipolar - major depression or dysthymic disorder (continuous)
bipolar - bipolar I, bipolar II or cyclothymia (mood swings)
examine the characteristics/symptoms and diagnosis of depression
mood - predominant emotion (in mood disorders there is an abnormal elevation or lowering of mood)
symptoms + characteristics:
- misery
-pessimism
-feeling of guilt
-lack of motivation
-suicidal thoughts
-indecisiveness
-slowness of action
-loss of libido
-sleep disturbance
-loss of appetite
-weight loss
-GI disturbances
discuss the aetiology of depression
unipolar:
reactive depression (75%, associated with stressful event, anxiety and temporary)
Endogenous depression (25%, familial, not related to stressor, recurrent +chronic)
Can be caused by genetic factors, neurotransmitter dysfunction and environmental factors.
describe the role of monoamines in depression
dopamine - (reward, motivation, sex)
noradrenaline - (alertness, conc, energy)
5HT - (memory, obsession, compulsion, anxiety)
available treatments for depression
-monoamine oxidase inhibitors - inhibits the degradation of neurotransmitters. MAOA (NA and 5HT) MAOB (DA) so increase in neurotransmitters. With SSRI’s can cause serotonin syndrome (fatal)
- tricyclic antidepressants - affect the transporters by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters 5HT and NA transporter blockade. Elevates released amines in synaptic cleft. Can block post synaptic receptors. S/E: can cause sedation, mania, heart block, cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory depression. In vivo can be metabolised to other active compounds, very long half-lives. Metabolised by CYP enzymes so compete with other drugs –> increases TCA toxicity. Drugs can be linked to suicide
-SSRI’s - blocks 5HT SERD transporter specifically. So increases 5HT levels. Most commonly prescribed e.g. prozac, citalopram, fluvoaxamine. Long half-lives + interact with CYP enzymes which may interact with TCAs. Has withdrawal effects so reduced gradually. Safer than TCAs in overdose.
-SNRI’s - non - selective for 5HT and NA transporters.
- Atypical antidepressants e.g. mirtazapine auto receptor antagonist. Results in NA release by blocking negative feedback. S/E leads to sedation.
- Rapid-acting antidepressants e.g. ketamine (NMDA receptor antagonist)
what are the catecholamines and their pharmacore?
Dopamine
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
all have catechol ring (benzene 2 hydroxyl side groups)
what is a indolamine and its pharmacore?
Serotonin - 5HT
indole ring (six-membered benzene ring fused to 5-membered nitrogen-containing ring)
what is the monoamine hypothesis?
- dopamine and noradrenaline both derived from tyrosine and L-DOPA within neurone
-converted to dopamine
-in noradrenergic dopamine is further converted to noradrenaline
-Norepinephrine transporter and dopamine transporter help with reuptake
- monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) enzymes help with the degradation
what happens at the seratonergic synapse?
5HT is synthesised via the hydroxylation and decarboxylation of tryptophan
It is inactivated by being taken back up via the SERT and degradation is via monoamine oxidase (MAO)
monoamine theory of depression
depression is a result of a functional deficit of 5HT or noradrenaline in the brain and mania is due to a functional excess
drug (reserpine) led to lowering of 5HT and noradrenaline leading to depressive like behaviour
Isoniazid blocked MAO - so elevated mood due to loss of degradation.
Tryptophan pre-curser increased 5HT and gave elevated mood
Inhibiting noradrenaline synthesis led to depressive mood/calm mania
tricyclic antidepressants- elevated mood by blocking amine reuptake
what is the cheese reaction?
tyramine normally metabolised by MAO. In high quantities when taking MAO inhibitors can cause severe hypertension
problem with monoamine theory
has immediate short-term pharmacological effects, but the clinical effects always take 4-8 weeks to onset.
how do we treat bipolar disorders?
- Lithium (can cause toxicity + needs plasma monitoring)
- Anticonvulsants
-Atypical antipsychotics
explain difficulties of molecules crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB)
- the presence of tight junctions.
- absence of fenestrations
discuss methods of transit across the BBB
- passive diffusion (no energy required, lipid-soluble molecules ,low polar SA, Low MW)
-active efflux (ATP required, drugs+toxins, transport from endothelium to blood, some bi-directional)
-CMT (used for polar molecules, genes/carrier proteins)
-transcytosis (RMT-molecules that are too large to use CMT, AMT - can be positively charged)
-cells diapedesis (most common WBC + can be manipulated)