Introduction to CNS Drugs Flashcards
T/F: Nearly all drugs with CNS effects act on specific receptors that modulate transmission.
T
T/F: CNS drugs are among the most important tools for studying all aspects of CNS physiology.
T
T/F: Unraveling the actions of drugs with known clinical efficacy led to the hypotheses regarding the mechanism of disease.
T
Organization of the CNS
The CNS is composed of the ____ and _____ and is responsible for integrating sensory information and generating motor output and other behaviors needed to successfully interact with the environment and enhance species survival.
brain and spinal cord
Organization of the CNS
The human brain contains about 100 billion interconnected neurons surrounded by various supporting ________.
glial cells
Throughout the CNS, neurons are either clustered into groups called ______ or are present in layered structures such as the _________ or _________.
nuclei; cerebellum or hippocampus
Organization of the CNS
Electrically excitable cells that process and transmit information via an electrochemical process.
Neurons
The typical neuron, however, possesses a cell body (or soma) and specialized processes called _________ and _______
dendrites and axons
Organization of the CNS : Neurons
Form highly branched complex dendritic “trees,” receive and integrate the input from other neurons and conduct this information to the cell body.
Dendrites
Organization of the CNS : Neurons
Carries the output signal of a neuron from the cell body
Axon
T/F: Neurons have hundreds of dendrites but generally have only one axon, although axons may branch distally to contact multiple targets
T
Organization of the CNS : Neurons
Makes contact with other neurons at specialized junctions (synapses)
Axon Terminal
Organization of the CNS : Neurons
Where neurotransmitter chemicals are released that interact with receptors or other neurons
Synapses
Organization of the CNS : Neurons
Receives the synaptic responses from the dendritic tree
Soma
Organization of the CNS:
Large number of non-neuronal support cells, called glia, that perform a variety of essential functions in the CNS.
Neuroglia
T/F: These synaptic responses are integrated at the axon initial segment, which has a high concentration of voltage-gated potassium channels.
F; sodium channels
Organization of the CNS : Neuroglia
Most abundant cell in the brain and play homeostatic support roles, including providing metabolic nutrients to neurons and maintaining extracellular ion concentrations
Involved in the removal and recycling of neurotransmitters after release
Astrocytes
Organization of the CNS : Neuroglia
Cells that wrap around the axons of projection neurons in the CNS forming myelin sheath
Oligodendrocytes
Organization of the CNS : Neuroglia
Specialized macrophages derived from the bone marrow that settle in the CNS and are the major immune defense system in the brain
Microglia
Organization of the CNS
A protective functional separation of the
circulating blood from the extracellular fluid of the CNS that limits the penetration of substances, including drugs.
Blood-Brain Barrier
Ion Channels & Neurotransmitter Receptors:
Respond to changes in the membrane potential of the cell
Voltage-gated channels
Sodium Channel
Blocks channel from outside
Tetrodotoxin (TTX)
Sodium Channel
Slows inactivation, shifts activation
Batrachotoxoin (BTX)
Potassium channels
Blocks “small Ca-activated” K channel
Apamin
Potassium channels
Blocks “big Ca-activated” K channel
Charybdotoxin
Calcium channels
Blocks N-type channel
Omega conotoxin (ω-CTX-GVIA)
Calcium channels
Blocks P-type channel
Agatoxin (ω-AGAIVA)
Ligand-gated channel: Nicotinic ACh Receptor
Irreversible antagonist
α-Bungarotoxin
Ligand-gated channel: GABAA Receptor
Blocks channel
Picrotoxin
Ligand-gated channel: Glycine receptor
Competitive antagonist
Strychnine
Ligand-gated channel: AMPA receptor
Blocks channel
Philanthotoxin
Ion Channel
Apamin, Charybdotoxin
Voltage-gated, Potassium
Ion Channel
Tetrodotoxin (TTX), Batrachotoxoin (BTX)
Voltage-gated, Sodium
Ion Channel
Omega conotoxin (ω-CTX-GVIA), Agatoxin (ω-AGAIVA)
Voltage-gated, Calcium
Ion Channel
α-Bungarotoxin
Ligand-gated, Nicotinic Ach receptor
Ion Channel
Picrotoxin
Ligand-gated, GABAA receptor
Ion Channel
Strychnine
Ligand-gated, Glycine