Lecture 7 Flashcards
What are the catecholamines?
dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline
What is one example of a tryptamine?
Serotonin
What is the first step of noradrenline synthesis
Tyrosine hydroxylase converts L-tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)
Where is tyrosine hydroxylase found?
- NA and DA neurones - adrenal chromaffin cells
What is the second step of noradrenline synthesis?
DOPA decarboxylase converts dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to dopamine
What is the final step of noradrenaline synthesis?
Dopamine-β-hydroxylase converts dopamine to noradrenaline
Where is dopamine-β-hydroxylase found?
NA vesicles
What is the role of phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase?
- converts noradrenaline to adrenaline in adrenal chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla
What drug inhibits tyrosine hydroxylase and what does this inhibit?
- 𝛼-methylparatyrosine - inhibits DOPA production
What drug inhibits DOPA decarboxylase and what does this inhibit?
- carbidopa and benserazide - inhibits dopamine production
What drug inhibits dopamine-β-hydroxylase and what does this inhibit?
- disulfarim (antabuse) - inhibits noradrenaline production
Name examples of drugs inhibiting storage of noradrenaline
- Reserpine - 𝛼-methyl DOPA
How does reserpine work?
1) inhibits NA uptake 2) depletes monoamines 3) decrease in sympathetic function - damages vesicles - decreases HR and BP
What are side effects of reserpine?
- postural hypotension - hypothermia - sedation - depression (suicidal at high doses)
How does 𝛼-methyl DOPA work?
1) coverted to 𝛼-methyl NA 2) replaces/displaces NA 3) released instead of NA - less potent at 𝛼1 and activates 𝛼2= less NA release - decreases HR and BP
What does 𝛼-methyl DOPA treat?
Hypertension e.g. in pregancy
What is the role of 𝛼2 adrenoceptors in noradrenaline release?
Presynaptic inhibitory autoreceptors= inhibit Ca2+ release
Name a drug that inhibits noradrenaline release
Clonidine
How does clonidine work?
- 𝛼2 agonist - decreases NA release
What is clonidine used to clinically treat?
- hypertension - migraines - Tourette’s - menopausal flushing
What are the two uptake mechanisms of noradrenaline?
- norepinephrine transporter (NET) - extraneuronal monoamine transporter (EMT)
What are the enzymes involved in noradrenaline/monoamine metabolism?
- monoamine oxidase (MAO) - catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) - aldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH)
What are MAO inhibitors used for?
Depression
What are COMT inhibitors used for?
Parkinson’s disease
What are the subtypes of 𝛼 adrenoceptors?
𝛼1, 𝛼2
What are the subtypes of β adrenoceptors?
β1, β2, β3
Which is more effective at 𝛼 adrenoceptors- noradrenaline or isoprenaline?
Noradrenaline
Which is more effective at β adrenoceptors- noradrenaline or isoprenaline?
Isoprenaline
What is the physiological response of 𝛼1 activation?
Contraction
Where is the 𝛼1 receptor expressed?
Vascular and vas deferens smooth muscle