Intro to pharm, endocrine, autonomic (& in pharm) Flashcards
What is a drug?
Chemical substance with a known structure, that when administered to a living organism produces a biological effect
What is pharmacology?
The study of mechanisms by which drugs affect the function of living systems.
What is bioassay?
Analytical method to determine the concentration or potency of a substance by its effect on living organism.
What is the importance of bioassay? (3 points)
- measure pharmacological effect of chemically undefined substances.
- investigate the function of endogenous mediators
- measure drug toxicity & unwanted effects
What are 3 fundamental principles of pharmacology?
- Drug action must be explicable in terms of chemical interactions between drugs & tissues.
- Drug molecules must be BOUND to cells/tissues.
- Drug molecules must EXERT chemical influence on cells
What 4 types of proteins are usually targeted for binding by drugs?
- Enzymes
- Transporters
- Ion Channels
- Receptors
What is an agonist?
A chemical mediator that produces a response when bound to a receptor.
What is an antagonist?
Chemical mediator that prevents the response of an agonist. These don’t elicit a response
What property of drugs can cause side effects?
Drugs that lack specificity
What drug binds to opioid receptors?
Morphine
How does CAR T immunotherapy kill cancer cells?
Through manipulation of contact-dependent signaling
What is a CAR receptor?
Chimeric antigen receptor that is inserted into the genome of patient T-cells, to create a ‘live’ drug.
What is an example of therapeutic manipulation of paracrine signaling in receptors?
Blocking of receptors for histamines
What is the role of mast cells & where are they found?
Located under the skin & detect allergens. Activated mast cells secrete mediators e.g. Histamine
What physiological changes can occur as a result of a release of histamines?
- Vasodilation
- activate neurones involed with itching
What is a way paracrine signaling can be affected by drugs?
Prostaglandins can cause inflammation. Paracetamol can target enzymes involved in the synthesis of mediators used to make up prostaglandins.
How can drugs target ion channels used to regulate neurotransmission?
- block voltage-gated Na+ channels
- prevent action generation
- used as local anesthetics (lidocaine in Strepsils)
How can drugs target machinery involved in the release of neurotransmitters?
Cleaving of proteins involved in synaptic machinery (eg. Botulinum toxin - BoTox- produced by bacteria).
How can drugs target transporters involved in neurotransmission?
Drugs can target transporters found on the cell membrane. They can prevent the reuptake of neurotransmitters.
What is the purpose of targeting transporters for neurotransmission?
- prevention of reuptake can alleviate symptoms through constant stimulation. Prozac is an antideppresant (blocks 5HT).
How can post-synaptic membranes by affected by drugs?
Through:
Activation (by agonists)
Inhibition (by antagonists)
What is an example of pharmacological manipulation of endocrine signaling?
Drugs increasing signaling to insulin receptor - Diabetes Type1 (no insulin produced)
What does the endocrine system regulate?
- Development
- Growth
- Reproduction
- Metabolism
- Blood pressure
- Concentration of ions in the blood
- Behaviour
What are the signaling mediators used in the endocrine system?
Hormones
Describe the positioning of endocrine cells (think about function)
- Close to capillary beds
- Found in endocrine tissues or glands
Do endocrine glands have ducts?
No
What do endocrine glands release?
Hormones
Describe the distances, times & specificity involved in the endocrine system
- long distances
- slow
- specific to receptors, not tissues/organs
What are the 3 types of hormones?
- protein
- amino acid derived
- steroid
What is an example of a hormone as a protein?
Insulin
What is an example of a hormone as an amino acid derivative?
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
What is an example of a hormone as a steroid?
Estradiol
What is the main difference in the 3 different types of hormones?
Their cell permeability
Describe where different types of hormones are synthesized?
Peptide - from amino acids
Amino acid derived - derivatives of tyrosine
Steroids - metabolites of cholesterol
Describe where different types of hormones are released
Peptide - secretory granules (exocytosis)
Amino acid derivatives - vesicles (exocytosis) *except thyroid hormone.
Steroids - lipid soluble
Described the target receptors of different types of hormones
Peptide - cell membrane surface receptors
Amino acid derivatives - cell membrane surface receptors *except thyroid hormone
Steroids - diffuse into cell, binding to nuclear receptors
Describe the response times of different types of hormones
Peptide - secs to mins
Amino acid derivatives - secs to mins
Steroids - hours to days
What are the 7 endocrine glands?
- Pituitary (anterior & posterior)
- Thyroid
- Parathyroids
- Adrenals (cortex & medulla)
- Ovaries
- Testes
- Endocrine pancreas
What are the 6 endocrine tissues?
- Hypothalamus
- Kidneys
- GI tract
- Heart
- Liver
- Adipose tissues
What type of cells does the anterior pituitary have? (what do they do)
Troph cells - releasing hormones from small diameter neurons of the hypothalamus
What vein do hormones released from the troph cells travel through?
Portal vein
What is another name given to the anterior pituitary?
Adenohypophysis
What is another word for the posterior pituitary?
Neurohypophysis
What direction projection is seen in the adenohypophysis?
Upward projection
What direction projection is seen in the neurohypophysis?
Downward projection
What does the posterior pituitary release? (& into where?)
Hormones from the large diameter neurons directly into systemic circulation.
What are the 5 major pituitary hormones?
- ADH (antidiuretic hormone)
- oxytocin
- growth hormone
- tropic hormone
- thyroid stimulating hormone
What are the hormones located in the thyroid gland?
T3 & T4
What is the necessary conditions (2 points) for the synthesis & release of T3 &T4 (thyroid hormones)?
- iodine - an essential trace element
- hypothalamic-pituitary hormones
How are T3 & T4 (thyroid hormones) transported across membranes?
Facilitated diffusion
What type of receptors do T3 & T4 (thyroid hormones) bind to?
Nuclear receptors (regulate transcription)
What 2 processes is the thyroid gland associated with?
- Metabolism
- Development & Growth
What hormone is produced by the parathyroid gland?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
What are the targets of parathyroid gland?
- Bone
- Intestine
- Kidney
Describe the feedback loop involved in lowering plasma levels by using parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- Calcium levels sensed by chief cells
- increase in plasma
- decrease in PTH
- decrease in kidney tubule reabsorption
- decrease bone calcium (plasma) reabsorption
- decrease in intestinal calcium absorption.
- This results in lowering plasma (Calcium)
What cells sense plasma (calcium) levels?
Chief cells
What are the two parts of the adrenal gland?
Adrenal cortex & adrenal medulla
What is the role of the adrenal cortex?
Release steroid hormones:
- glucocorticoid - cortisol
- mineralocorticoid - aldosterone
What cells are found in the adrenal cortex?
Chromaffin cells
What is released from chromaffin cells?
Adrenaline & Noradrenaline