Neuromuscular Pharmacology Pt1 Flashcards
Steps neuromuscular transmission
- Nerve action potential depolarizes presynaptic terminal of neuromuscular junction
- Voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels open
- Ca2+ enters presynaptic terminal
- Exocytosis of synaptic vesicles containing acetylcholine
- Acetylcholine diffuses across synaptic cleft; 1/3 acetylcholine molecules degraded by acetycholinesterase
- Remainng acetylcholine molecules reach postsynaptic membrane where interact with acetylcholine receptors embedded in post synaptic membrane
- Binding of acetylcholine to acetylcholine receptor -> opening nonspecific cation channel -> depolarization postsynaptic muscle membrane
- Remaining acetylcholine degraded by acetylcholinesterase
- Depolarization of muscle membrane -> action potential and release of Ca2+ from internal stores into cytoplasm
- Increased cytoplasmic calcium binds to troponin
- Actin and myosin filaments slide -> muscle contraction
synaptic cleft neuromuscular
500 angstrom synaptic cleft; there is basal laminal fold ion cleft with acetylcholine esterase on it 1/3 of acetylcholine will get destroyed when crossing
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
- depolarization of postsynaptic (muscle) membrane
Sites of drug action neuromuscular transmission
- CNS
- Motor neuron axon
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
- Skeletal muscle
drugs/ substances acting on neuromuscular transmission of CNS and muscle relaxation
- drugs can cause muscle relaxation by acting on internuncial spinal neurons to depress polysynaptic pathways
- these drugs also work on higher brain centers as anti anxiety agents
- unknown if muscle relaxation due to acton on spinal cord or anti-anxiety effects
drugs/ substances acting on CNS neuromuscular transmission used to treat
- drugs in this category used to treat muscle spasm (spasmolytics)
drugs/ substances acting on CNS neuromuscular transmission
- Diazepam
- Methocarbamol
- Glycerol Guaiacolate
Diazepam
- addictive
- muscle relaxant
- relaxes muscle w/o blocking it
- works on neuromuscular transmission of CNS
drugs/ substances acting on motor neuron axon transmission what do they do
- interfere with conduction of action potentials 2 ways
1. Blockade propagation of action potential
2. Facilitation of propagation of action potential
Blockade propagation of action potential drugs
- Local anesthetics
2. Toxins (tetrodotoxin, saxitotoxin, scorpion toxin, brevitoxin)
Local anestetics (motor neuron axon)
have to use ALOT of this to get motor neuron blocked bc preference is for sensory
Toxins (motor neuron axon) effects
- agents block motor neurons in some cases can -> death
- skeletal muscle block
- D+
- Convusions
Tetrodetoxin
- made in liver of puffer fish
- blocks Na+ channel
- kills b/c paralyzes diaphragm muscles
Saxitoxin and Brevitoxin
- found single celled algae that lead to red tide
Saxitotoxin blocks Na+
Brevitoxin leaves Na+ channels on all the time blocking action potneital
Aminopyridines
- facilitate propagation action potential
- block K+ channels -> stronger action potential
Aminopyridines clinical use
useful in MS pateients
drugs/ substances effecting neurotransimission motor neuron terminal
- hemicholinum
- botulinum toxin
- latrotoxin
hemicholinum
- blocks uptake of choline and synthesis of acetylcholine
botulinum toxin
- inhibits release of acetylcholine
- v potent toxin; protease that can enter presynaptic terminal and cleave proteins involved in release presynaptic terminal -> inhibition release acetylcholine
Latrotoxin
- black widow spider venom
- causes massive release acetylcholine followed by decreased synthesis and release acetylcholine
- interacts with presynaptic terminal forming pore allowing Ca2+ in -> massive acetylcholine release which uses up all acetyl choline and turns off presynaptic terminal -> paralysis
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors types
Reversible and irreversible
Reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitors
pyridostigmine, physostigmine, neostigmine, edrophonium
edrophonium mechanism of action
- reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
- reversibly binds to acetycholinesterase (no covalent modification therefore readily reversed)
Pyridostigmine, Physostigmine, and neuostigmine mechanism of action
- reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- enzyme covalently modified (carbamylated), this is reversible over several hours
Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors clinical use
- pyridostigmine- treatment myasthenia gravis
- edrophonium- diagnosis of myasthenia gravis
- all 4: reversal of some neuromuscular blockers
Irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- organophosphate compounds