EXAM #1: ANS PHARMACOLOGY - CHOLINERGICS Flashcards
What is a direct acting cholinomimetics?
Drugs that bind directly to and activate muscarinic or nicotinic cholinoceptors
What is a indirect acting cholinomimetics?
Drugs that produce their effects by inhibiting AChE i.e. preventing the destruction of endogenous ACh
What are the two classes of indirect acting cholinomimetics? What are their basic clinical and commerical applications?
- Reversible= used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease or Myasthenia Gravis
- Irreversible= Organophosphates, commerical insecticides
What are the different types of direct-acting cholinomimetics?
1) Choline esters
2) Natural alkaloids
3) Synthetic analogs
List the choline esters. Generally, what type of drug are these?
- Acetylcholine
- Methacholine
- Carbachol
- Bethanechol
These are all “choline esters,” which are direct cholinoceptor agonists.
Describe ACh’s: 1) susceptibility to cholinesterase, 2) muscarinic action, and 3) nicotinic action.
1) High susceptibility to cholinesterase
2) Equally high muscarinic and nicotinic action
Describe Methacholine’s: 1) susceptibility to cholinesterase, 2) muscarinic action, and 3) nicotinic action.
1) Low susceptibility to cholinesterase
2) High muscarinic action (greater than ACh)
3) Low nicotinic action
Describe Carbachol’s: 1) susceptibility to cholinesterase, 2) muscarinic action, and 3) nicotinic action.
1) NO susceptibility to cholinesterase
2) Moderate muscarinic action
3) Moderately high nicotinic action
Describe Bethanechol’s: 1) susceptibility to cholinesterase, 2) muscarinic action, and 3) nicotinic action.
1) NO susceptibility to cholinesterase
2) Moderate muscarinic action
3) NO nicotinic action
What are the cardiovascular effects of the choline esters?
- Hypotension from direct vasodilation
- Bradycardia
- Slowed conduction/ prolonged refractory period of AV node
What are the gastrointestinal effects of the choline esters? What symptoms seen with choline esters?
- Increased tone and contractility of the gut
- Increased acid secretion
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps
What are the genitourinary effects of the choline esters?
- Increased bladder motility and relaxation of sphincter resulting in involuntary urination
- Little or NO effect on UTERUS
What are the ocular effects of the choline esters?
- Miosis (sphincter m.)
- Decreased intraocular pressure and accomodation (ciliary m.)
What are the respiratory effects of the choline esters?
Bronchoconstriction
What are the effects of choline esters on glands?
Increased secretory activity resulting in:
- Salivation
- Lacrimation
- Sweating
How does acetylcholine need to be administered? Why?
IV b/c it is rapidly destroyed by AChE
What are the effects of ACh on the cardiovascular system at low doses vs. high doses?
Low=
- Vasodilation
- Decreased TPR b/c of M3 receptor activation on vascular endothelium
- -> “Reflex tachycardia”
High=
- Bradycardia
- Decreased AV conduction
- Negative ionotope
What are the nicotinic effects of ACh?
None–does NOT penetrate fat surrounding skeletal muscle and ANS ganglia
What are the clinical uses of ACh?
B/c of rapid degradation, clinical use is limited, but it can be used for:
1) Eye surgery for short-lasting miosis
2) Provocation test in coronary angiography
Provocation test assists in the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm
What are the respiratory effects of ACh administration?
1) Bronchoconstriction
2) Increased bronchial secretion
Thus, ACh should NOT be given to ASTHMATICS
What is the clinical use of methacholine?
Diagnosis of bronchiolar hypersensitivity
This is called a “methacholine challenge”–>M3 activation leads to transient bronchoconstriction patients with bronchiolar hypersensitivity at much lower doses than normal population
How does Methacholine differ from ACh?
Longer half-life b/c of methyl group
What is the clinical cuse of Carbachol?
Treatment of Glaucoma; it contracts the ciliary muscle, which:
1) Enlarges canal of Schlemm
2) Increases drainage of aqueous humor
3) Decreases intraocular pressure
What receptors are activated by therapeutic doses of Carbachol?
BOTH nicotinic and muscarinic cholinoreceptors
What is the danger associated with high doses of Carbachol?
May induce cardiac arrest
What are the clinical indications for Bethanechol?
1) Gastric atony
2) Gastric emptying abnormalities
3) Urinary retention (w/out obstruction)
Bethanechol increases Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) tone; this can reduce symptoms of reflux s/p vagotomy
What are the predominate Gu and GI effects of Bethanechol? Drug interaction with which type of receptor mediates these effects?
GU=
- Increased detrusor tone
- Decreased outlet resistance of internal sphincter
GI= increased motility and secretion
M3 receptor mediated
What are the two direct acting muscarininc alkaloids?
Muscarine
Pilocarpine
What are the symptoms of muscarine poisoning?
- Salivation, lacrimation, and sweating initially
- Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, blurred vision, and dyspnea
Effects typically subside within 2 hours
What are the clinical uses of Pilocarpine?
- Glaucoma- this is the drug of choice (topically)
- Xerostomia (orally)
- Test on autonomic state/ PNS dysfunction
What effects of Pilocarpine predominate? What receptor type are these effects mediated by?
Opthalmic (M3)
What the mechanism of action of Pilocarpine on the eye?
1) Contracts sphincter muscle to produce MIOSIS
2) Contracts ciliary m. to free entrance into Canal of Schlemm (narrow angle Glaucoma)
3) Enhances tone of trabecular network (wide angle glaucoma)
What are the contraindciations to direct-acting cholinoceptor agonists?
1) Peptic ulcers
2) GI tract disorders
3) Asthma
What drugs interact with direct-acting cholinoceptor agonists?
Drugs with antimuscarinic properties:
- Quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- Procainamide (antiarrhythmic)
- Tricyclic antidepressants
All can block the intended effects of cholinoceptor agonists
What are the two nicotinic alkaloids?
Nicotine
Succinylcholine
These are direct acting nicotinic receptor agonists. Note that b/c of dramatic long term receptor activation, Succinylcholine function as a nicotinic receptor antagonist
What are the actions of nicotine on Nm receptors?
- Skeletal muscle contraction
- Fasiculations/ spasm
- Depolarizing blockade (similar to succinylcholine)
Generally, what is the action of nicotine on Nn receptors?
Stimulation of BOTH SNS and PNS post-ganglionic neurons