Kap 4 . Psychopharmacology and Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Psychopharmacology

Answer 1

the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behavior

Question 2

Exogenous

Answer 2

produced outside the body

(rules out chemical messengers produced by the body, like neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or hormones)

Question 3

The definition of a drug

Answer 3

an exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the functions of certain cells of the body when taken in realtively low doses.

Question 4

drug effects

Answer 4

the changes we can observe in an individual´s physiological processes and behavior

Question 5

sites of action

Answer 5

are the locations where drug molecules bind with molecules located on or in cells of the body, to affect some biochemical processes of these cells

Question 6

The steps of Pharmacokinetics

Answer 6

1. absorbed
2. distributed within the body
3. metabolized
4. excreted

Question 7

Peritoneal cavity

Answer 7

the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver and other abdominal organs

Question 8

Intraperitoneal (IP) injection

Answer 8

injection through the abdominal wall
- not as rapid as IM
- commonly used in small laboratory animals

Question 9

Intramuscular (IM) injection

Answer 9

• Directly into a large muscle (upper arm, thigh, buttocks)
• more rapid than IP

Question 10

Subcutaneous (SC) injection

Answer 10

• beneath the skin

Question 11

Intracerebral administration

Answer 11

a procedure to study the effects of a drug in a specific region in the brain, where a researcher inject a very small amount of the drug directly into the brain

• rapid druguse

Question 12

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) adminitration

Answer 12

• to achieve widespread distribution of a drug on the brain, you can pass the blood-brain barrier by injecting the drug into a cerebral ventrical
• not used often on humans, but on certain types of infections, antibiotics might be delivered this way
• rapid druguse

Question 13

Oral Administration

Answer 13

• drugs though mouth –> digestive tract –> pass metabolism in the liver
• some drugs will be destroyed by stomach acid and will be ineffective if taken orally
• reach the site of action, slowly
  often used in therapeutic drugs

Question 14

Sublingual administration

Answer 14

placing a drug beneath the tongue
- drug is absorbed into the bloodstream through the capillaries that supply the mucous membrane that lines the mouth

Question 15

Topical administration

Answer 15

drugs absorbed through the skin

Question 16

insufflation

Answer 16

sniffing / snorting

Question 17

Affinity

Answer 17

the readiness with which two molecules join together - for the sites to which they attach

High affinity = effect low concentration
Low affinity = higher dose to get same effect

Question 18

dose-response curve

Answer 18

the best way to measure the effectiveness of a drug

se figur 4.4 s. 96

Question 19

Therapeutic index

Answer 19

a measure of a drug´s margin of safety

Question 20

Tolerance

Answer 20

when a drug is administered repeatedly its effects diminish

Question 21

Sensitization

Answer 21

when a drug is administered repeatedly its effects becomes more and more effective

Question 22

withdrawal symptoms

Answer 22

“opposite effect of the drug”

If an addicted drug uses stops taking the drug. For example heroin produces euphoria, relaxation, withdrawl produces dysphoria (feeling of anxious misery), agitation

Question 23

Receptor downregulation

Answer 23

“first compensensatory mechanism”
decrease receptor availability

The receptors become less sensitive the drug and their affinity for the drug decreases, or. the receptors decrease in number

Question 24

” second compensenstory mechanism”

Answer 24

involves the process that couples the receptors to ion channels in the membrane or the production of second messengers.

Question 25

Two spesific amino acid are the most common/important neurotransmitters in CNS

Answer 25

Glutamate and GABA

Question 26

4 major types of glutamate receptors

Answer 26

Ionotropic
1. NDMA receptor (important role in the cellular basis of learning and memory)
2. AMPA receptor ( –II – )
3. Kainate receptor

Metabotropic receptor
4. Metabotropic glutamate receptor. (presynaptic autoreceptors)

Question 27

glutamine excitotoxicity

Answer 27

produces when, too much glutamine stimulation in the synapse
- it damage neurons if prolonged and is belived to be involved in damage to the brain in stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Question 28

Valium

Answer 28

diazepam

Question 29

Xanax

Answer 29

alprazolam

Question 30

Benzodiazepines

Answer 30

anxiolytics (anxiety-dissolving)

• used to reduce symptoms of anxiety, reduce seizure activity, and produce muscle relaxation

Question 31

Botulinum toxin

Answer 31

Botox

Question 32

Why are does the drug effectivness vary?

Answer 32

They vary because they have different site of action and vary in their affinity for their binding sites

Question 33

Agonist

Answer 33

This are the substances that promote the activity of a neurotransmitter and thereby either stimulates the release or effect of a neurotransmitter, or it simulates the same effects. You can have direct and indirect agonists.

A direct agonist binds to the sites of a neurotransmitter, and thus kind of pretend to be a neurotransmitter with the same or comparable effect.

A indirect agonist binds to other sites, but thereby stimulates the original action process.

Question 34

Antagonist

Answer 34

Drugs that reduce the action of a neurotransmitter fall into this category. The direct antagonists bind to the same sites of action of a neurotransmitter, but thereby blocking the access for the real neurotransmitter, whereas an indirect antagonist uses other binding sites, but still
manages to block the original effect.

Question 35

Placebo

Answer 35

inactive substances, that trigger a placebo effect which is caused by changes in
motivation, expectation or classical conditioning.

“You might belive that there will be an effect so strongly, that you actually get an effect”

Question 36

Enzymatic Degradation

Answer 36

Enzymes (e.g., acetylcholinesterase) break down the neurotransmitter into inactive components.

Question 37

Precursor

Answer 37

en forløper er et stoff som fungerer som et utgangsmateriale eller byggestein for syntesen av en annen forbindelse, ofte et aktivt medikament. Forløpere omdannes kjemisk gjennom biologiske eller syntetiske prosesser for å produsere det ønskede stoffet.