Lecture 29 - Introduction

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

A chemical of known structure, other than a nutrient or essential dietary ingredient, that produces an effect when introduced to a biological system.

Question 2

Thiazide diuretics:
1)
2)
3)

Answer 2

1) Inhibit Na+/Cl- cotransporter in renal distal convoluted tubule.
2) Increase Na+ and water excretion from distal convoluted tubule.
3) Lower blood volume, blood pressure.

Question 3

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 3

Effect of a drug on the body

Question 4

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 4

Effect of the body on a drug

Question 5

Acetylcholine nicotinic receptor timeframe

Answer 5

Miliseconds

Question 6

Adrenoceptor timeframe (GPCR)

Answer 6

Seconds

Question 7

Tyrosine kinase receptor timeframe (Insulin)

Answer 7

Minutes

Question 8

Nuclear receptor timeframe (cortisol)

Answer 8

Hours

Question 9

D-tubocurarine effect

Answer 9

Prevents muscle contraction

Question 10

D-tubocurarine binding

Answer 10

Binds ACh receptors on nicotinic Na+ ion channels

Question 11

Physostigmine target

Answer 11

Acetylcholineesterase

Question 12

Aspirin target

Answer 12

Cyclo-oxygenase

Question 13

Cyclo-oxygenase role

Answer 13

Makes inflammatory prostaglandins

Question 14

Imatinib target

Answer 14

BCR-abl tyrosine kinase

Question 15

Disease associated with BCR-abl

Answer 15

Chronic myeloid leaukaemia

Question 16

Receptor associated with insulin

Answer 16

Tyrosine kinase

Question 17

Cortisol receptor

Answer 17

Glucocorticoid receptor

Question 18

Ways to control chemical signalling:
1)
2)
3)

Answer 18

1) Breakdown of signalling chemical
2) Reuptake of chemical signal
3) Negative feedback

Question 19

Example of breakdown of signal molecule

Answer 19

Acetylcholine/acetylcholineeserase at NMJ

Question 20

Example of reuptake of chemical signal

Answer 20

Noradrenaline, reuptaken into sympathetic nerves

Question 21

Example of negative feedback

Answer 21

Insulin

Question 22

Example of direct feedback

Answer 22

Cortisol

Question 23

Method of insulin negative feedback:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Answer 23

1) Increased glucose levels in pancreatic beta-cells increases ATP levels.
2) Metabolism-steered K+ channels blocked by ATP.
3) Cell depolarises, opening voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.
4) Insulin released.

Question 24

Method of cortisol action:

Answer 24

1) Cortisol binds to glucocorticoid receptor in cytoplasm, chaperone unbinds.
2) Receptor-cortisol complex enters nucleus, binds ligand on DNA.
3) Changes gene expression.

Question 25

Role of glucocorticoid receptor chaperone

Answer 25

Chaperone keeps glucocorticoid receptor in a conformation ready for cortisol binding.

Question 26

Method of cortisol direct feedback

Answer 26

1) Adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulates adrenal gland to release cortisol.
2) Increased cortisol levels reduce corticotrophin-releasing factor release from hypothalamus.
3) This reduces adrenocorticotrophic hormone release from pituitary gland.
4) A drop in adrenocorticotrophic hormone in peripheral circulation reduces cortisol levels.