Exam 2 Flashcards
What is the difference between venomous and poisonous animals?
Venomous animals = Creatures that produce a poison in highly developed secretory gland which can be delivered during a stinging or biting act.
Poisonous animals = Creatures with tissues (either part or entire tissue) that are toxic. No delivery system, rather those animals are toxic when eaten.
What are the two mechanisms for venomous animals?
Hunting- usually produced by glands associated with the mouth region (in the front)
Defense- usually associated with other parts of the body (hind parts of the body)
What are the different types of biotoxins?
Hemotoxins
Hemolysis, thrombosis, & thrombolysis
Examples include: Crotalid snakes (Pit vipers), Viperid snakes
Neurotoxins
Primarily affect the nervous system of affected animals.
Examples include: Botulism, Black widow spiders, most scorpions, jellyfish, Elapid snakes
Cytotoxins
Toxic at the cellular level (tissue damage), either non-specifically or only in certain cells.
Examples include: Brown recluse spiders, blister beetles
Hymenoptera (bees, hornets and wasps)-
Geographic range and habitat
Widespread
generally greater numbers in mild climates
found in secluded places
nests of mud, papery material or wax
Hymenoptera (bees, hornets and wasps)-
Exposure
Disturbance of nest or swarm
Hymenoptera (bees, hornets and wasps)- Toxin and toxicity
Complex mixture of enzymes and polypeptides
Some common components; some unique to a species:
Bee venom: melittin, apamin (most venomous), phospholipase A, mast cell degranulation peptide, hyaluronidase (spreading factors)
Wasp venom: mastroparan and bradykinin
Depends on the age and species of insect, location of the sting, the amount of venom injected, age and condition of victim
20 stings/kg bw can be lethal
Hymenoptera (bees, hornets and wasps)- diagnosis
Localized pain, heat and swelling
Presence of venom sac and stinger
bees - sting once and has venom sac and stinger in site
Wasps- sting multiple times
Lesions - usually localized and consist of small puncture site, stinger, redness, swelling, heat and eosinophil accumulation. Persist for ~ 24 to 48 hours.
Can be sensitized to stings after initial sting → bigger response in the future
Hymenoptera (bees, hornets and wasps)- treatment
Ice/cold compress- Helps with swelling
Antihistamines- Helps with swelling
Topical corticosteroids
Treat anaphylaxis, shock
Broad spectrum antibiotics- If it gets infected
No specific antidotes (only symptomatic treatment)
Epicauta species- basic information
Nearly 40 species of blister beetle in the U.S.- confirmed toxicosis with relatively few Spp
Toxicosis more common in southern and southeastern U.S.
Found in gardens and crop and hay fields
Manufactured/pelleted feeds- Bugs can travel long distances in feed
Epicauta species- exposure
Poisonous- in live or dead/dried state
Males are more poisonous than females (4x more)
Crimped in hay
Alfalfa hay commonly involved (Medicago sativa)
145 g of dried beetles have been found in a single flake of alfalfa hay!!
Epicauta species- toxin and toxicity
Crystalline cantharidin
Dogs and cats: 1.0 to 1.5 mg/kg
Horses: 0.5 mg/kg
Cantharidin
found in hemolymph and gonads
strongly irritating to mucous membranes
hypocalcemia due to unknown mechanism
GI tract- Anorexia, colic, diarrhea, mucoid to bloody stools
Urinary Tract- Dysuria, hematuria
Respiratory, Cardiac- Tachypnea, tachycardia, slow CRT
Causes cell death and necrosis (die within 48-96 hours)
Used to be used as Spanish Fly”- Blistering agent, diuretic, aphrodisiac
Epicauta species- post mortem
Gross
oral ulceration, vesication, desquamation in GI tract.
hyperemia and hemorrhages in urethra and urinary bladder.
Histologically:
damage (necrosis and ulceration) to the mucosa of the GI tract, epithelium of urinary tract and endothelium of vessels.
Epicauta species- diagnosis
Look carefully for beetles in hay
Analysis for cantharidin in urine, GIT contents, hay, pelleted feeds
Epicauta species- treatment
Treat for shock; correct acidosis, hypocalcemia
AC
50% of affected horses die –prognosis guarded
What are the differences between black widow spiders and brown recluse?
More lethal than brown recluse
BW has more small animal cases than brown recluse
Black widow spider (Lactrodectus mactans)- Exposure
Accidental encounter with nesting area (used to immobilize insects)
Black widow spider (Lactrodectus mactans)- toxin and toxicity
alpha-latrotoxin, a neurotoxin
Ionophore for Ca, Na and K
Increases their permeability and enhances neurotransmitter release
Degeneration of nerve terminals → paralysis
Affects motor and sensory nerve terminals
A single bite may be lethal to a small animal.
Black widow spider (Lactrodectus mactans)- clinical signs
Severe muscle cramps
Anxiety
Painful
Peak of clinical effects 6-12
Black widow spider (Lactrodectus mactans)- diagnosis and treatment
Difficult- observation of bite locus
Pain control
Muscle relaxants
Calcium gluconate
Antivenin (Equine origin, Merck)
Only used if bite but no interaction with tissue (no symptoms)
Used in dogs and cats
Treat shock
recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.) – geography and basic information
Several species found throughout the U.S.
Brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
Females have larger bodies and fangs → only females are able to penetrate skin on mammals
recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.) – toxin/MOA
Several proteins
Hyaluronidase
Sphingomyelinase
Proteases
hemolysins
Endothelial cell damage
Coagulation
thrombus formation
tissue necrosis
Toxicity- As little as 5 g of toxin causes lesions
recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.) – diagnosis
lesion consistent with bite
Bulls eye lesion → represents necrosis spreading out
recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.) – treatment
Wound care- excision of affected area
Antibiotics (open wound)
Dapsone may reduce inflammation
No antivenin- not as poisonous as black widow
What are some Crotalidae (pit vipers)
Rattlesnakes
water moccasins
copperheads
what are some Elapidae
coral snakes
cobras
What are some General characteristics of venomous snakes
Poikilothermic- they are the same temperature as their environment
Carnivorous
Posteriorly curved teeth- teeth / fangs are shed and replaced throughout life
Difficulty seeing stationary objects- generally poor eyesight
Detect movement via ground vibration
What is some information about snake venom?
Venoms are primarily composed of proteins, many with enzymatic activity.- also glycoproteins, lipids and biogenic amines
Proteolytic enzymes catalyze the breakdown of tissue proteins and peptides.
Esterases may mediate bradykinin-releasing and bradykinin-clotting activity.
Thrombin-like enzymes have procoagulant activities.
What are some characteristics of pit vipers?
Deep pit between eye and nostril
Vertically elliptical pupils
Fangs are hollow and retractable, located near the front of the maxilla
Body is narrower than back of the head →“arrow-like” shape
Can be aggressive if disturbed
Most common cause of envenomation in veterinary medicine
What are Rattlesnakes Bite statistics
Relatively common
Dogs most often affected
Bites tend to occur from May to September during late afternoon
Head and front legs are most common sites
often through aggressive or curious behavior
Horses
Bites are most often on the muzzle; lower limbs less so
generally when grazing
Cattle
Bites often to the tongue and muzzle
Cats
More resistant to pit viper venom on mg/kg bw basis
However, lesions often severe due to small size and delay before treatment
Bites often occur on torso
Pit viper toxins and toxicity
Multiple, complex venoms
Collagenase
Hyaluronidase
Phospholipases
Ribonucleases
Polypeptides
Procoagulants and anticoagulants
Toxicity Varies on
species variations
size of snake
location of bite
Amount injected is critical variable
pit viper- clinical signs
Pain
Rapid swelling
Ecchymotic to suffusive hemorrhages in area of bite
Salivation, hypernea, tachycardia, mydriasis
Secondary infections
Some like the Mojave rattle snakes cause neurotoxicity
Bite on face ⇒ difficulty breathing
pit viper- diagnosis
Observation of bite or bite wounds
characterized by two puncture wounds
pit viper- treatment
Emergency!
Small Animal
Shock treatment
Transfusions if severe anemia or hemorrhage
Antibiotics (+/-)
Pain medication
Diphenhydramine
Antivenom: ASAP
Large animals
Establish and maintain airway(tube, tracheostomy)
Anti-inflammatory
Antibiotics (+/-)
Anti-tetanus
Antivenom: risk for serum sickness if equine origin antivenom is given
What are the differences between the two Crotalidae Antivenoms?
CroFab
From sheep
Fab fragments, affinity-purified
4 NA Crotalid species
FDA approval
Anaphylaxis: not reported
Serum sickness: rare
$$$$
Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent
From horse
IgG, not well purified
2 North & 2 South American snakes
FDA approval
Anaphylaxis: reported
Serum sickness: frequent
$$$$
What is some information about the rattlesnake vaccine?
Sold by Red Rock Biologics in CA
Available only in CA and WA, marketed for dogs and horses
USDA / VS: “conditionally licensed product”
Current approach by the VMTH: Treatment protocol for vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated patient is the same (i.e. antivenom is also given to the vaccinated patient)
Vaccination is not recommended due to lack of good efficacy data, cost, and low incidence rate in area.
What are some facts about elapidae?
Fangs are at anterior end of maxilla and are tubular or deeply grooved and fixed
Coral Snakes- Red into yellow … ⇒ kill a fellow
Two genera in the US:
Micruroides: M. euryxanthus = Arizonan (Sonoran) Coral snake
Micrurus:
M. fulvius fulvius = Eastern Coral snake
M. fulvius tenere = Texas Coral snake
M. fulvius barbouri = South Florida Coral snake
Most members of Elapidae are found in Africa, Asia, and Australia
Round pupils
Small pair of short fixed front fangs
Venom is delivered by chewing
Tend to be non-aggressive, reclusive
Elapidae- exposure
Envenomation relatively uncommon
Coral snakes have small mouths making envenomation difficult
Elapidae- toxin/MOA
Proteins
Curare-like effect
Interferes with Acetylcholine → blocking neuromuscular junction (can’t breath)
paralysis
Local tissue reaction
Phospholipase A
Hemolytic anemia reported in dogs
Elapidae- clinical signs
Limb numbness, weakness, disorientation, paralysis, dyspnea
Parasympathetic signs include salivation, emesis, and diarrhea.
Fang marks are small.
Elapidae- diagnosis and treatment
Dx Difficult
Rx
Antivenin
Respiratory support
Atropine
What is signal transduction? What is the equation for it?
Signal Transduction: A pathway of events by which each component participates in the process of transmitting a hormonal/growth factor signal to the target molecules within the cell.
[L] + [R] ↔ [LR] → [LR] →→→ Response
L- ligand
R- receptor
LR- ligand receptor complex
LR- excitable and leads to a response
alpha= 1 → full response. Fully agonist
Less than one→ less than full response, not as good as an agonist
Affinity = 1/KD
Multiple of these pathways occur simultaneously
Based on the LR equation, what is the implied pharmacological effects?
Pharmacological effects are reversible because the Ligand-receptor complex is reversible.
Pharmacological effects are proportional to the number of receptors occupied.
Pharmacological effects are proportional to the dose of ligand/drug.
Pharmacological effects plateau because they are limited by the total number of receptors.
Types of receptors
Receptors coupled to G-proteins
Receptors tyrosine kinases
Cytosolic and Nuclear Receptors
Ion Channels
Signaling cascade mediators
Ca2+
Ras MAP kinases
Protein Kinase A
Protein Kinase C
How is relative potency seen in graphs?
Relative potency- lower EC50 compared to another drug’s EC50
more left = higher potency
How is relative efficacy seen in graphs?
greater response than another drug
higher curve = higher efficacy
What does drug concentration graph slope mean?
Slope- how receptor is responding to the drug
Hill coefficient- The steepness, Hill coefficient, gives information about the stoichiometry of the drug-receptor interaction (is 1 for 1:1 interaction)
For nH= 1; 20% of effect is obtained at 0.25 x EC50and 80% effect at 4 x EC50
For nH< 1; suggests negative co-cooperativity.
nH> 1; suggests positive co-cooperativity and a 2:1 or higher interaction between receptor and drug → makes concentration-response relationship very steep with large increases in effect at small increases in dose.
How is pharmacodynamics measured?
Graded
Continuous scale (dose ® effect)
Measured in a single biologic unit
Relates dose to intensity of effect
GRADED DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP:indicate doses that cause 1/2 maximal response in a given INDIVIDUAL- ED50
Quantal
All-or-none pharmacologic effect
Ex. Cured or not Cured [ex. Parasiticides]
Population studies
Relates dose to frequency of effect
QUANTAL Dose-Response Relationship:indicate doses that cause 1/2 of the POPULATION to respond.– mean or medium ED50
How is quantal pharmacodynamics determined?
General experimental design
Define the population to be tested
Determine the number of individuals to be tested
Determine time (of taking data)
Define endpoint(s) level of pharmacological/toxic response
Randomly assign individuals to dose groups (include placebo)
Results
Score % responding within each dose group
Plot data as frequency distribution, cumulative frequency
Gives rise to how much of population responding, how many hypersensitive, and how many resistant (%)
What arises from a comparison between cumulative and standard deviation plots?
ED50 matches up with the middle of SD plot and halfway for cumulative plot
Higher the ratio → higher TI → safer for population
Higher TI- at higher ED90, lower TD (less overlap between the two)
What is the standard safety margin?
Certain Safety Factor = LD1/ED99
Relates therapeutic effect in all animals in the absence of a risk of producing a hazardous effect. LD is the Lethal Dose of the drug. Certain safety factor is when ED99 must be increased before an LD1is reached.
Standard Safety Margin= (LD1- ED99)/ ED99* 100
The Standard Safety Margin is a percent which ED99 must be increased
Before an LD1is reached.
What is the difference between concentration response and dose response plots?
Concentration Response when talking about in vitro on an isolated receptor- Effective Concentration (EC). Reported as ½ Response; i. e. EC50
Dose Response when talking about in vivo where you use mg/kg body weight- Effective Dose (ED). Reported as ½ Response; i. e. ED50
Terminology used with animal use
what is pharmacodynamics?
A chemical structure contains information which, upon binding biological receptors, can alter their structure and function
What is the difference between agonists and antagonists?
Agonists enhance ongoing function
Antagonist diminish ongoing function
What is an inverse agonist
An inverse agonist is a ligand that binds to the same receptor as the agonist and causes the opposite effect of the agonist ligand.
Requirement: Receptor must have basal activity in the absence of any ligand for an inverse agonist to function.
The efficacy of an inverse agonist is less than 0.
Examples of receptors that bind to inverse agonists are GABAA, melanocortin, mu opioid, histamine and beta adrenergic receptors.
What is the difference between competitive antagonists and noncompetitive antagonists? How about their dose response curve?
comp- Antagonism can be overcome by increasing [agonist] (a property limited by toxicity).
Antagonists added→ right shift in the curve
Schild plot- For competitive antagonists the equilibrium dissociation constant (KB) for the antagonist can be obtained.
When the slope is equal -1 the antagonism is competitive.
pA2is concentration of antagonist, which requires a 2-fold increase in agonist concentration
non- Acts to essentially remove a fraction of the receptors from producing a response to agonist (inhibition not dependent on [agonist]).
Can’t overcome inhibition with increased agonist concentration
Dose response curve
Addition of agonists → efficacy decreases (curve goes lower)
However, EC50 value remains the same because receptors still bind
Q and Qmax is lowered because receptors are not responding to binding
What is drug selectivity?
Drug selectivity- Predictable pharmacological response requires knowledge about relative potency of efficacy at all receptors with which it interacts.
No drug is completely specific in biological action- can be off target effects
Structure-activity relationships reveal receptor subtypes
What is the simple receptor occupancy model?
The magnitude of a specific in vitro response is proportional to the fraction of receptor sites (R) complexed with a reversible ligand (L)
Intrinsic efficacy- Indicate the relation between pharmacologic response and occupancy of receptor sites
What are the alpha intervals for full receptor agonists? What about partial agonists?
full- 1.0> alpha > 0.8
partial- 0.8 > alpha > 0.2
What is clinical potency?
Clinical Potency- Reflects the amount of drug needed to produce a certain level of therapeutic response
Affinity for a drug for its receptor is the principle determinant of clinical potency.
What is intrinsic efficacy?
Reflects the greatest clinical response attainable with a drug at any dose
What are possible dug-drug interaction effects?
Increased effects- additive or synergistic effect
Increased therapeutic effect
Increased toxic or adverse effects
Decreased effect- antagonistic effect
Decreased therapeutic effect
Decreased toxic effect
What is the difference between additive effect and synergistic effect?
Additive effect : Both drugs do not affect the actions of each other, but their actions together equals the sum of the actions of each drug when administered alone.
Synergistic effect: Actions of both drugs administered together promote an exaggerated effect out of proportion compared to the actions of each drug administered alone.
May be called super additive
What is antagonism? What is an example of its mechanism?
Occurs when one drug inhibits the action of another.
AKA sub additive
Pharmacological antagonism: a drug antagonizes the effect of another drug by acting on the same receptor. Two types- competitive and noncompetitive
Ex. Detoxify-reversal therapy- Xylazine and Yohimbine
Xylazine targets the presynaptic alpha2- adrenergic receptor to reduce neural transmission
Yohimbine (competitive antagonist) reverses the effects of xylazine by competing with the alpha2-adrenergic receptor
What measures drug-drug interaction? How is it done?
classical isobologram plot (predicts isoeffect curves when two drugs are together)
Done in vitro
EC50 value is plotted on graph (x and y interval)
In this example, both are 1
Draw line to connect the two
When adding the two drugs together, if it falls
On the line → additive
Below the line → synergistic
Above the line → antagonism
This depends on concentration (proportion of Drug A and B)! If you change the concentration throughout the graph, you will see synergism, antagonism, and additive features all over the graph
What are spare receptors?
How is it graphically represented?
Observation: Only a fraction of the total number of receptors need be occupied to elicit a maximal response in some tissues
Experimental Evidence: Titration of a known noncompetitive antagonist results in an apparent “competitive”shift in the dose-response relationship
Expected:
See overall drop in efficacy, but instead, they got a competitive right shift
As increase non comp antagonists → less receptors available → still enough receptors to reach efficacy → only right shift → but still has less and less receptors to respond → as increased antagonist (don’t have enough receptors for response) → finally have drop in efficacy in response
If EC50 is less than KD → spare receptors
Seen- at 90% pharmacological response, only ~25% of receptors responding
Antagonists → less receptors available → increases EC50 closer to KD
What is therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)?
A tool for guiding a dosing regimen
Individualize therapeutic regimens for optimal patient benefit
Increasing therapeutic effects and decreasing toxic effects
Assumes a relationship between: Dose, Concentration, and Response
Dose-response relationship (rem. The three assumptions)
What are the indications for TDM?
Animal refractory to medication
Not responsive to medication (seeing if dose in therapeutic range)
Animal showing toxicity
PK differences in individual patients
How drug is eliminated and why you are seeing toxicity
Drug Interactions
Steep dose response curve
Small change in dose leads to massive effect
Drug with a narrow therapeutic range
TDM is not indicated for all drug
What are TDM sample considerations?
Sample Type
Plasma/serum/whole blood- Vast majority of drugs are tested in plasma or serum (either or is dependent on lab and what type of test they have)
Tube type- Glass vs plastic- some drugs bind to glass or plastic→ get artificially low concentrations
Titer top tubes (have silicone plug) → some drugs bind to silicone plug
Detailed History
Any other drugs, when drugs were given, in critical condition?
Assay needs to be rapid (24-48 hours)
Cost
Applicability to patient:
Concentration – effect relationship
Drug needs to have this
Established “therapeutic”range
Qualified individual for interpretation (vet clinical pharmacologist)
TDM- when to collect sample?
Drugs with a long elimination t1/2 relative to dosing interval
Collect at steady state
Steady state = Therapeutic range
Single sample vs. peak (Cmax) and/or trough (Cmin)
Single- make sure if in range
peak - toxicity
Trough- lack of efficacy
Allow time for absorption/distribution (~1-2 hours post admin of EV drug)
How does one get TDM samples for drugs with a short elimination half time relative to dosing interval?
Single sample is often sufficient for monitoring (want to know if within dosing range)
Allow time for absorption/distribution
How does TDM work in association to loading and maintenance doses?
After loading dose- After absorption and distribution to make sure it is at therapeutic level
One t1/2 after maintenance dose starts
Make sure maintenance dose maintains what it achieved by LD
At steady state- Make sure it is maintaining concentration
Elimination half-life calculation:
Peak and trough
What are the steps of TDM in relation to dosing?
Initiate drug dosing schedule
Allow time to reach steady state
Administer another dose
Collect peak sample
Collect trough sample
Assay drug concentrations
Calculate individual PK parameters (half life)
Adjust dosing interval or dose amount
How should TDM be interpreted?
The “therapeutic”range is a population statistic and not a “normal.”
Not based on individual
95% of the population respond somewhere within the range.
What are considerations when adjusting dose regimens?
Drug
Therapeutic index of drug (safety)
Can you give a large amount of drug and pushing interval or would that cause toxicity?
Need to maintain plasma drug concentrations within therapeutic range throughout dosing interval
Would it fall to really small levels before giving next levels?
Some drugs (like the one in lab) protect the drug concentration when it gets low → it is ok when concentrations get low because it is protected
How are adjusted intervals calculated?
proportional method
new interval/old interval = existing conc/desired conc
How are adjusted dose calculated?
proportional method
old dose/existing conc = new dose/desired conc
Important to check peak concentration to see if falls into therapeutic range → not toxic
But therapeutic range is population value → not based on individual, so you should monitor once drug administered
Describe what you can assess with a peak sample and trough sample
peak - assess toxicity
Trough- assess lack of efficacy
Having peak and trough samples allow one to calculate ______
Having both allows to calculate rough estimate of half life
Helpful when drug changes it own half life and metabolism
Define Tolerance
“safe concentration”
Established based on safety to the person consuming the tissue.
Tissue tolerances established in fat, milk, muscle, liver, kidney or skin.
Define Withdrawal Time (WDT)
time required for a drug to be depleted from the animal before the animal’s meat can be marketed for human consumption.
FARAD- provides information to veterinarians about withdrawal times
Esp if used off label
Give examples of factors that affect withdrawal times.
Closely related to elimination half life
Statistical method is used to determine the time it takes for drug residues to deplete below the safe concentration.
Only valid for the specified species, dose, route and frequency of administration.
If used off label → Veterinarians must establish a substantially extended withdrawal period supported by scientific information with ELDU.
Can be affected by physiologic condition (affects elimination half life)
What is neurochemistry?
the study of neurochemicals, including neurotransmitters and other molecules such as psychopharmaceuticals and neuropeptides, that influence the function of neurons. This field within neuroscience examines how neurochemicals influence the operation of neurons, synapses, and neural networks
Endogenous molecules that are imp for determining function of nervous system
What is neuropharmacology?
the study of how drugs affect cellular function in the nervous system, and the neural mechanisms through which they influence behavior. There are four main branches of neuropharmacology: molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral
Drugs specifically that influence neurotransmission
What are some basics about neurotransmission?
Synapse has presynaptic that has chemical signal that triggers post synaptic signal
Pre- electrical
Synapse- chemical
Post- electrical
What are some basics about action potentials?
Electrical signaling (action potential)- dramatic change in membrane potential
At rest- -70 mV
Less positive charge inside compared to outside
Maintained by Na/K pump (can’t cross plasma membrane)
Also ion channels → typically closed at rest
Triggered- depolarization (increased voltage)
Voltage gated Ion channels (Na)- open in response to change to depolarization
Very quickly open Na channels and delays opening of K channels
Na has two pressures to drive it into the cell
Concentration gradient
charge (electrochemical) gradient
Threshold- -55mV→ all or none response
Membrane potential shoots up
repolarization: decrease mV
Set up electrochemical gradient to drive K out
K channels open up → makes cell more negative (Net loss of positive charge)
Overshoot
Why do action potentials travel in only one direction?
Depolarization occurs first from body → positive charges (Na) going in are attracted to the adjacent lateral negative sides → depolarizes neighbor and travels down axon hillock
Why only travel left to right?
Because K channels open and make more negative
Pump
Activation gate opens with depolarization
With delay, activation gate closes and inactivation gate opens → blocks Na flowing through to the left → only travels to the right
What occurs in the chemical synapse?
AP reach axon terminus → cause opening of voltage gated Ca channels → Ca flows inside → activate fusion of synaptic vesicles to presynaptic neuron → synaptic vesicles dumped in synaptic cleft → bind to receptors on postsynaptic side → allows change of ion distribution of neurotransmitter → depolarization on post side
Ca always higher out of cell vs inside
What is the process of chemical transmitters?
Synthesis of neurotransmitter in the presynaptic neuron
Storage of the neurotransmitter and/or its precursor in the presynaptic nerve terminal
Need to be stored or else they will be degraded
Release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
Binding and recognition of the neurotransmitter by receptors on the target (postsynaptic) cell
Termination of the action of the release neurotransmitter
Always active ⇒ be no signaling
How is neurotransmission terminated?
Binding of it to presynaptic cell receptor
Can decrease how much is being released- autoinhibitory receptors
Decrease synthesis on the presynaptic side
Uptake proteins
On presynaptic side
Recycled for neurotransmission
Taken up into glial cells
All synapse are surrounded by glial cells
Clear them out
Diffuse out of synaptic cleft
Inefficient
Can be metabolized in synaptic cleft
How is neurotransmission physiological response determined?
Neurochemical phenotype of affected cell type(s)
Location of molecular/cellular target(s)
Physiological role of molecular/cellular target(s)
Pharmacokinetics of drug/toxin/toxicant
Where is acetycholine found? What does it do?
A neurotransmitter used by the spinal cord neurons to control muscles, by many neurons in the brain to regulate memory and by peripheral neurons to regulate autonomic function.
In most instances, it is excitatory
Where is dopamine found? What does it do?
The neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure when released by the brain reward system
Dopamine has multiple functions depending on where in the brain it acts
It can be excitatory or inhibitory
Where is GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) found? What does it do?
The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
Where is glutamate found? What does it do?
The most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Where is glycine found? What does it do?
A neurotransmitter used mainly by neurons in the spinal cord
It is probably always acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter
Where is norepinephrine found? What does it do?
NE acts as a neurotransmitter in the CNS and PNS
In the PNS, it mediates the flight or fight (sympathetic) response
In the brain, it acts as a neurotransmitter regulating normal brain processes
NE is usually excitatory, but is inhibitory in a few brain areas
Where is serotonin found? What does it do?
A neurotransmitter involved in many functions including mood, appetite, and sensory perception
In the spinal cord, serotonin is inhibitory in pain pathways
What is the excitatory-inhibitory balance? What causes shifts in this balance?
Balance of glutamate (excitatory) and GABA (inhibitory)- EI balance
Can change balance by change in excitatory vs inhibitory drive
Glut neurons can inhibit another glut neuron transmission through gaba neuron
Imbalance between Excitatory and Inhibitory Drive (E/I Imbalance) Contributes to Diverse Pathologies
What are some pathologies that can arise from EI balance shift?
Too much inhibition- death
Too much excitatory- seizures and death
A lot of seizure medication → targets this balance (increase GABAergic)
Drugs used to control anxiety target this
Anxiety- too much excitatory drive
Target to decrease excitatory
Critical to peripheral organ function → autonomic function
From hypothalamus, balance of EI
Determines rate of AP firing and strength
Increase in inhibitory- decreased resp output
Increased excitatory - increased resp output
Many organs in periphery are dually innervated
Balance between EI determines what happens in these organs
What is the difference between somatic and autonomic neurotransmission?
Somatic- single circuit
Motor neuron- release acetylcholine → binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor → contraction of muscle
Autonomic- two neuron circuit
Preganglionic and postganglionic
Ganglion- collection of neurons
Para- send pre out very far to ganglion
Can be seen in lungs and heart
Post- send out acetylcholine to post and post will release acetylcholine → bind to muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
sympathetic nervous- chain ganglia (lie next to spinal cord) → pre not send out far → acetylcholine to post → post release NE
Pre can also release acetylcholine to nicotinic receptors → EPI released in bloodstream
What is the difference between nicotinic and muscarinic receptors?
Ligand gated ion channels
Mus- activate second messaging signals in cells
What are the targets of autonomic nervous system?
Exocrine glands (sweat, salivary, etc)
Cardiac muscle
β1 receptor stimulation increases heart rate (HR), contractile force, conduction velocity
Muscarinic receptor stimulation decreases HR and contractile force
Smooth muscle
α receptor stimulation causes smooth muscle contraction
β2 receptor stimulation causes smooth muscle relaxation
Muscarinic receptor stimulation causes smooth muscle contraction*
except for blood vessel relaxation, which involves release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells
Describe characteristics of a ruminant
Cloven hooves
No upper incisors
Upper teeth is a dental pad
3 - 4 compartments that make up their digestive system before intestines
Some people consider reticulum as part of other parts
Rumen
Omasum
Abomasum- true acid stomach
Pregastric fermentation
Everything in rumen has first crack at everything eaten before the animal
Ruminate, chew cud
Ruminate comes from when they eat, they stick head in air and “think”
Cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer, antelope, moose, elk, giraffe
What is rumination? Why is it done?
Rumination- brings up food from rumen to chew and then goes back in rumen
Has saliva → neutralize pH, gets wet for microbes to latch onto them
Ruminate 9-10 hrs / day on high forage
5 hrs on finely ground→ No tickle factor- no contractions
Maybe impaired with disease
Ie. vagus nerve damage, displaced abomasum (go to the L or R side, twist)