MS Flashcards
hindbrain components
medulla, pons, cerebellum
medulla
*autonomic functions: respiration, cardiac function, vasomotor responses
part of the brain stem
pons
relays signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum
cerebellum
governs motor coordination for producing smooth movements
***undergoes neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxis
midbrain
substantia nigra
pars compacta: provides input to basal ganglia, supplies dopamine to the stratum, *undergoes neurodegeneration in parkinson’s
forebrain components
cortex: processing/interpreting information
basal ganglia: voluntary motor control
limbic system: emotions and memory
diencephalon: thalmus (relay station), hypothalmus (emotions, hormonal control)
cortex
involved in decision making and higher level functions
decisions are made in cortico-thalmic loops
often damage cannot be treated with drugs, except schizophrenia*
efferent
neuron tracks transmit signals from the cortex to the periphery
afferent
neuron tracks transmit from the periphery to cortex
meninges
layers of membranes collectively referred to as meninges
cerebrospinal fluid fills space between arachnoid and pia layers
*pathogenesis: meningitis, meningeal hemorrhage, meningioma
blood in the brain
enters the brain via the carotid artery
*pathogenesis: ischemia stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, migraine headache
neurons and glial cells
astrocytes: provide neurons with growth factors, antioxidants; remove extra glutamate; *support the blood brain barrier
oligodendrocytes: *produce myelin sheath that insulates axons
microglia: provide growth factors; clears debris; role in neuroinflammation
blood brain barrier
*stabilized by tight junctions in the endothelial cell layer of blood vessels in the brain
drugs must pass through cells, often by having low molecular weights
neurons
neurotransmission is triggered by electrical depolarization of the neuron by an influx of Na+ to change the polarity of the membrane
action potentials
excitatory neurons: increase frequency of action potentials
inhibitory NT: prevent action potentials
single magnitude no matter amount of NT
EPSPs (excitatory postsynaptic potential): act on ionotropic receptor allowing Na ions to cross membrane
IPSP (inhibitory postsynaptic potential): induce hyperpolarization by allowing Cl- ions to cross membrane *can decrease the magnitude of a subsequent EPSP
amino acid neurotransmitters
GABA: *major inhibitory NT in the brain, depresses excitability by *increasing the flux of Cl- ions, drugs acting with GABA are generally depressants: sedative hypnotics, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics
glycine: inhibitory *NT released by interneurons in the spinal cord
glutamate: major excitatory NT in the brain, allows Ca influx into the neuron
non-amino acid NTs
acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin,
acetylcholine
works on both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors
dopamine as a NT
*excessive dopaminergic signaling may be involved in schizophrenia, *loss of DA neurons in the SN is responsible for PD, drugs: anitpsychotics, dopamine receptor agonists for PD
norepinephrine
target adrenergic receptors, *NET inhibitors are used to treat depression
serotonin
systems involved in sleep, vigilance, mood, and sexual function
5-HT2A antagonists: atypical antipsychotics
5-HT1D agonists for migraine
SERT uptake inhibitor for depression
5-HT2A agonists: hallucinogens
MS
immune-mediated disorder involving destruction of the myelin sheath that surrounds neuronal axons
MS common symptoms*
visual problems, numbness/tingling, fatigue/motor weakness, difficulty walking, spasticity
MS less common symptoms
tremor/seizures, itching, speech and swallowing issues, breathing problems, headache, hearing loss
MS etiology
- Viral or bacterial infections: may increase the risk of MS by activating autoreactive immune cells leading to an autoimmune response in genetically susceptible individuals* (i.e. not everyone who gets infections increases their risk), EBV may be involved in developing MS due to sequence similarities between EBV and self-peptides (*molecular mimicry), EBV is NOT thought to be a direct cause of MS, Individuals with a particular HLA have an increased risk of developing MS when they also have anti-EBNA antibodies (illustrates gene-environment interactions)
- Genes Related to MS encode: HLA- DR15/16, IL-2α, and IL-7α receptors
forms of MS
- Relapsing-Remitting (85% of cases)
- Secondary Progressive MS
- Primary Progressive MS (15% of cases)
- Clinically Isolated Syndrome
- Marburg variant: Aggressive variant involving a high degree of inflammation
relapsing remitting
RRMS
- Initial symptoms disappear, but less remission with each relapse
- Most cases of RRMS eventually enter a phase of secondary progressive MS
secondary progressive
SPMS
- Characterized by less inflammation that RRMS
- Involves more neurological decline and CNS damage
primary progressive
PPMS
- Resembles SPMS at the initial stage of the disease
- Mean age is later than RRMS
clinically isolated syndrome
CIS (MS)
- Initial episode of neurologic symptoms lasting over 24 hours
- Most cases progress to MS
marburg variant of MS
Aggressive variant involving a high degree of inflammation