Lecture 16 - Motor Disorders Flashcards
a disease where the immune system attacks the acetylcholine receptor by producing antibodies to this receptors
myasthenia gravis
what are some of the initial symptoms of myasthenia gravis?
ptosis (drooping eyelids), blurred vision, mouth hanging open, smile resembles a snarl
which muscles are typically affected first in myasthenia gravis?
facial muscles and external ocular muscles
what are some symptoms of myasthenia gravis as it begins to spread?
increased difficulty swallowing, dyspnea (shortness of breath) upon mild exercise, weakness of trunk and limb muscles
what is the average age for the onset of myasthenia gravis?
28 years in females and 42 years in males
what are the major treatments for myasthenia gravis?
removal of the thymus, immunosuppressants, anticholinesterase drugs
antibody binding to ACh receptors leads to:
increased rate of endocytosis
go review slide 443
how on earth does a woman turn all that text into flashcards
what is a key piece of evidence to suggest that myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease?
insertion of a fish ACh receptor that was close enough to the endogenous mouse receptors that the mouse antibodies attacked its own ACh receptors
do you remember the neuromuscular junction?
how could I not (but just incase its slide 445)
one treatment for myasthenia gravis is to give medicines that inhibit acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. that way, the ACh will _____ and it can _____
not be deactivated, stay around longer to keep muscles contracting
an anticholinesterase drug which reduces the symptoms of myasthenia gravis by inhibiting ACh-esterase, preventing the breakdown of ACh
neostigmine
neostigmine is _____, so you have to take it daily
reversible
