Exam II: Adrenergic Agonists Flashcards
The general term for neurotransmitters/hormones in the sympathetic nervous system is:
Catecholamines
What are the 3 major catecholamines?
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine
What are the 4 basic adrenergic receptors?
alpha 1
alpha 2
beta
dopamine
Alpha 1 receptors are coupled with ____ proteins and produce ____ effects
Gq proteins
Activate other enzymes, resulting in positive effects
Alpha 2 receptors are coupled with ____ proteins and produce ____ effects
Gi proteins
Decrease cAMP causing negative action
Beta receptors are coupled with ____ proteins and produce ____ effects
Gs proteins
Inc. conversion of ATP to cAMP (inc. cAMP)
Dopamine receptors are coupled with ____ proteins and produce ____ effects
Gi and Gs
D1: increase cAMP
D2: decrease cAMP
What are the 4 factors that can alter the degree to which adrenergic receptors respond to a stimulus
- Selectivity
- Regulation
- Polymorphism
- Catecholamine metabolism
What are the 4 examples of mechanisms of desensitizations?
- Altered transcription or translation of DNA and/or RNA
- Modifications of receptors
- Long term exposure to an agonist
- Interactions or messages from other receptors
How is NE terminated in the cell? (4 ways)
- NET acts as pre-synaptic pump to move NE out of synapse and back into neuron
- Movement of NE out of synaptic cleft and into bloodstream
- Metabolism b COMT
- Metabolism by MAO
What are 2 drugs that inhibit NET?
Atomoxetine (for ADHD)
Cocaine
What does COMT stand for?
catecholamine-O-methyltransferase
What does COMT metabolize?
All catecholamines (NE, Epi, DA)
What is a drug that inhibits COMT and what disease is it used to treat?
Entacapone
Treats Parkinson’s dz to inhibit metabolism of levodopa
What does MAO stand for?
Monoamine Oxidase
What does MAO metabolize?
Endogenous monoamines (NE, epi, serotonin, DA)
Define sympathomimetic
Drugs that mimic actions of NE, epi, DA
Where on the chemical structure can changes be made to sympathomimetics to alter affinity?
- Benzene Ring Substitutions
- Amino group substitutions
- Alpha carbon substitutions
- Beta carbon substitutions
Describe possible benzene ring substitutions
- Adding hydroxyl groups to C3 and C4
- Adding a hydroxyl group to either C3 or C4
- Absence of hydroxyl group on benzene ring
If a sympathomimetic has -OH groups added to C3 and C4 position of the benzene ring then what characteristics would you expect?
Maximized alpha and beta activity
Susceptible to COMT breakdown so they will have a shorter half-life
If a sympathomimetic has an -OH group added to either C3 or C4 position of the benzene ring then what characteristics would you expect?
Reduced adrenergic potency
COMT can NOT break down so inc. drug duration
If a sympathomimetic has no -OH groups on its benzene ring then what characteristics would you expect?
Lipophilic –> can enter CNS
Describe the possible amino group substitutions
Increasing the size of alkyl substitutions
Isopropyl groups on the amino nitrogen
What does increasing the size of an alkyl substitution do to the sympathomimetic drug?
Increases beta activity
The larger the group, the lower the alpha activity