Drugs and the peripheral nervous system Flashcards
Example of peripheral nervous system - afferent system
Input stimulus detected by sensory neurone.
Example of peripheral nervous system - efferent system
The effect of a muscle/glad to create an output
What is the PNS efferent pathway?
Autonomic nervous system.
Smooth muscle outside the influence of voluntary control.
What are the 2 types of autonomic NS?
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Sympathetic, autonomic NS
Pupils dilate. Lens of eye adjusts for far away vision. Airways in the lungs dilate. Respiratory rate increases. HR increases. Blood vessels to limb muscles dilate. Blood vessels to visceral organs constrict. Salivary secretions reduced. Brain activity general alertness.
Parasympathetic, autonomic NS
Pupils constrict. Lens of eye readjusts for closer vision. Airways in the lungs constrict. Respiratory rate decreases. HR decreases. Blood vessels to limb muscles constrict. Blood vessels to visceral organs dilate. Salivary secretions normalise. Brain activity normalise.
Somatic NS
Motor innervation of skeletal muscles.
Organisation of Sympathetic system
Short pre-ganglionic fibre (Ach)
Long post-ganglionic fibre (NA)
Organisation of Parasympathetic system
Long pre-ganglionic fibre (Ach)
Short post-ganglionic fibre (Ach)
Organisation of Somatic efferent system
Only one fibre (Ach and NMT)
Sympatheric system exceptions
Sweat glands (Ach - Pre and Post-ganglionic fibre) Adrenal glands -> Adrenaline (Ach - one fibre)
PNS: Acetylcholine pharmacology
Synthesis - Choline/Choline acetyl transferase.
Storage - Vesicles.
Release - Exocytotic.
Receptor interactions - Muscarinic/Nicotinic.
Termination - In synapse by Ach esterase.
Muscarinic receptors (mAch)
Slow response.
M1,2,3
Located at postganglionic parasympathetic synapses.
G-protein coupled receptor (or metabolic receptor)
Nicotinic receptors (nAch)
Fast response
Neuronal type - Brain and autonomic ganglia (excitatory).
Muscle type - Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) (excitatory).
Ligand-gated ion channels (or ionotropic receptors)
Made up of 4/5 subunits.
Coupled directly to an ion channel.
Time scale - fast (ms)
Effect of muscarinic agonists
Increases pupil constriction. Decrease focal length of the lens. Bronchoconstriction. Decrease cardiac output. Increase GI motility. Increase exocrine gland secretion. PARASMYMPATHOMIMETICS
Effect of muscarinic antagonists
Pupil dilate. Increase focal length of the lens. Bronchodilation Increase cardiac output. Decrease GI motility. Exocrine gland secretion decreased. PARASYMPATHOLYTIC.
Muscarinic receptor agonists
Pilocarpine - Glaucoma and xerostomia
Carbachol
Clinical uses of Pilocarpine
Used to treat Glaucoma.
Local application causes ciliary muscle contraction.
Focus on near vision.
Allows increase drainage of aqueous humour.
Contraction of sphincter muscle causes pupil constriction.
Stimulates saliva secretion.
Taken systemically.
Side effects of Pilocarpine
Muscarinic
Sweating, nausea, minimal cardiovascular side effect (due to low dose).
Clinical uses of muscarinic receptor antagonist (Atropine like drugs)
Pupil dilation in eye surgery, causes pupil dilation (Tropicamide - duration 2-6 hours compared to 6 days for atropine).
Decrease oral/respiratory secretions before ora procedures and as an adjunct to anaesthesia (atropine - belladonna, deadly nightshade - Glycopyrronium).
Resuscitation in bradycardia - causes increase in HR (Atropine).
Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade). Used cosmetically over 2000 years ago. Pupils dilate.
Asthma (causes bronchodilation) - Ipratropium by inhalation.
Motion sickness - orally decreases gastric motility (Hyoscine).
Muscarinic receptor antagonists
Atropine - Bradycardia
Tropicamide- Pupil dilation
Ipratropium - Asthma
Hyoscine - decrease GI motility and motion sickness.
Neuronal type, nicotinic receptor.
Located on both sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia.
Agonist (nicotine) activates both systems.
Sympathetic - Vasoconstriction, Tachycardia, hypertension.
Parasympathetic - Bradycardia, hypotension, Increase GIT motility, Increase secretions.
Autonomic confusion.
Antagonists = hexamethonium