LECTURE 19 & 20: CNS

Question 1

Neurotransmitters

Answer 1

chemicals that allow communication between neurones, transmission across synapse

e.g. Ach, dopamine, serotonin

Question 2

Neurodegenerative disease

Answer 2

disease of the CNS that is characterised by progressive loss of selected neurons in the brain

Question 3

parkinsons disease

Answer 3

insidious onset of voluntary movement, muscle rigidity, postural abnormality and tremors

Question 4

parkinsons is caused by

Answer 4

striatal deficiency of dopamine from neuronal degradation decreasing dopamine into neurostriatum

Question 5

parkinsons treatment aims to

Answer 5

decrease Ach and increase Dopamine

Question 6

dopamine drugs and Ach drug

Answer 6

1- dopamine precursor (L-dopa or levodopa)
2- inhibitor of dopamine metabolism (carbidopa)
3- dopamine agonist (pramopexole)
4- amantidine
5- Antimuscarinic drug (benzatropine)

Question 7

what does amantidine do

Answer 7

blocks dopamine reuptake

Question 8

how does antimuscarinic drug decrease Ach in parkinsons treatment

Answer 8

blocking M1 receptor, decreasing cholinergic activity, decreasing Ach

Question 9

Alzheimers is a type of

Answer 9

dementia

Question 10

3 distinguishing factors of alzheimers

Answer 10

1) accumulation of amyloid plaques between nerve cell of brain
2) formation of numerous neurofibrillary tangle
3) loss of cortical neurons (especially cholinergic neurons)

Question 11

Alzheimers drugs

Answer 11

1) acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
2) NMDA receptor antagonists

Question 12

Ach-esterase inhibitors in alzheimers treatment.

AND EXAMPLES

Answer 12

reversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase to prevent breakdown of Ach, increasing transmission

doneprezil and galantamine

Question 13

NMDA receptor antagonist in Alzheimers treatment

Answer 13

memantine

uncompetitive antagonist at glutamate receptor, dec neuronal excitotoxicity

Question 14

motor neuron disease

Answer 14

group of related NGDs that affect motor neurons and therefore volunatry muscle control

Question 15

drugs indicated for MND

Answer 15

riluzole

blocks TTX-sensitive channels which are linked to neurponal damage
allosterically binds to GABAA on post synaptic neuron prolonging survival for months

Question 16

GABA

Answer 16

inhibitory amino acid in CNS

Question 17

serotonin

Answer 17

excitatory monoamine neurotransmitter

Question 18

noradrenaline

Answer 18

excitatory monoamine neurotransmitter

Question 19

anxiety

Answer 19

feeling of dread, apprehension or uneasiness from unknown source

Question 20

main mediators of anxiety symptoms

Answer 20

GABA, serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine

Question 21

drugs for anziety

Answer 21

benzodiazepines and barbiturate

Question 22

benzodiazepines and barbiturate MOA

Answer 22

bind to allosteric site of GABAA receptors to enhance GABA binding

Question 23

benzodiazepam eg

Answer 23

diazepam

Question 24

barbiturate eg

Answer 24

thiopentone

Question 25

Depression

Answer 25

low mood, lack of motivation and interest, aversion to activity

Question 26

depression drugs

Answer 26

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) triacyclic antidepressant (TSA) monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Question 27

SSRI

Answer 27

blocks reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic cells - means serotonin remains longer in gap and can bind to receptor

Question 28

SNRI and TSA

Answer 28

blocks reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline into presynaptic cells - means serotonin and noradrenaline remains longer in gap and can bind to receptor

Question 29

SSRI eg

Answer 29

citalopram

Question 30

SNRI eg

Answer 30

venlafaxine

Question 31

monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Answer 31

inhibit activity of monoamine oxidase A and or B - preventing breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin and noradrenaline)

Question 32

patho cause of depression

Answer 32

not well understood but accepted to be insufficient monoamine neurotransmitters

Question 33

monoamine neurotransmitters

Answer 33

serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine

Question 34

monoamine oxidase inhibitor eg

Answer 34

Phenelzine

Question 35

why is monoamine oxidase inhibitor A better?

Answer 35

because acts for serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine rather than just dopamine (B)

Question 36

TCA eg

Answer 36

doxepin