Pharmacology Flashcards
Define the major neurotransmitters of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems ?
What parts of the autonomic nervous system does acetylcholine act ?
How does stimulation of the parasympathetic system affect the following body systems ?
Parasympathetic stimulation through Acetylcholine
- decrease HR, conduction velocity, contractile force
- salivary glands, lacrimal glands increase secretion
- Gastrointestinal tract increase motility, tone, relax sphincters, increase secretions and increase contraction of the gall bladder and ducts
- Lungs = bronchial constriction, increase secretion and decrease RR
- Bladder contraction fundus and relaxation sphincter
- Causes contraction of the sphincter muscle of the Iris ciliary muscle
Describe the synthesis, storage and release of Acetylcholine ?
Synthesis and storage, release ACTH
- Synthesised by Choline acetyltransferase
- This catalyses the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A to choline
- ACHT is stored in a bound form within vesicles
- Choline must be pumped into the cholinergic neuron, and the action of the cholinergic transporter is the rate limiting step
- An action potential in the cholinergic neuron terminal evokes the opening of voltage sensitive calcium channels and the release of ACHT - by exocytosis to trigger a post synaptic physiological response.
Describe how Acetylcholine is broken down and how this is important ?
Acetlycholine breakdown
- Broken down by Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE)
- rapidly hydrolyses ACH into choline and acetic acid
- Thus Acetylcholine has a rapid, discrete and localized action
- True AChE is localised in the synaptic cleft at cholinergic synapses.
Describe the two different cholinergic receptors, and where they act ?
The effects of ACh is mediated via cholinergic receptors. These receptors are classified to their responsiveness to 2 agonist (nicotine and muscarine)
Mascarinic receptors
- postganglionic parasympathetic neurons eg heart muscle, smooth muscles and secretory glands
- presynaptic noradrenic and cholinergic nerve terminals
- non inervated sites in vascular endothelium
- spinal cord and brain
- G protein coupled receptor
Nicotinic receptors
- sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia
- adrenal medulla
- neuromuscular junctions (skeletal muscle)
- spinal cord and brain
- ligand gated ion channel
Question answers
- Choline acetyltransferase
- action of choline transporter into the cholinergic neuron
- Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE)
- muscarinic and nicotinic
Describe the different types of muscarinic receptors, and what physiological response occurs when they are stimulated ?
Identify three direct esters, what are these drugs mode of action ?
Parasympathomimetic Cholinomimetic Esters
Carbachol, Bathanecol, and Methacholine
Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system by acting directly upon postsynaptic receptors
- Acetylcholine naturally occurs in the body as an Ester
- ACH however is rapidly degraded, where as the artificial esters are longer lasting
- these drugs may be selected to act specifically on muscurinic or nicotinic receptors
Methacholine and bethanechol activate muscurinic but not nicotinic receptors
Carbachol has both muscurinic and nicotinic activity
Describe the three different types of Parasympathomimetic drugs and their action ?
Provide six indications of Parasympathomimetic drugs?
Indications for Parasympathomimetic drugs ?
- Urinary bladder atony in cats (urolithiasis)
- Rumen atony
- Colic and impaction of the intestinal tract
- Retained placenta still birth
- Glaucoma
- Anti-curae, and myasthenia-like symptoms in dogs
Describe the mechanism of action and toxiticity of cholinomimetic
alkaloids ?
Parasympathomimetic cholinomimetic alkaloids
Pilocarpine, Muscarine and Slaframine
Mode of action = directly stimulate postsynaptice muscurinic receptors
- minimal activation of nicotinic receptors
- do not depend on naturally produced ACH for activity
- long duration of action
- Pilocarpine only alkaloid frequently used in clinical practice
Toxicity
- diarrhoea
- colic
- bronchoconstriction
- dyspnea
- hypotension
- bradycardia (too slow)
Provide examples of Cholinesterase inhibitors, mode of action and affects of toxicity ?
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Reversable inhibitors = Physostigmine, Neostigmine, Pyridostigmine and Edrophonium
Irreversable Inhibitors = Organophosphates, Diisopropyl fluorophosphate, Echothiophate
Mechanism of action = Inhibits the breakdown of ACH to potentiate and prolong cholinergic neurotransmission.
- classified according to the duration of action
- Neostigmine and Physostigmine can be hydrolysed by ACHE, however at a slower rate
- organophosphates form a more stable enzyme-inhibitor complex
- Neostigmine and Pyridostigmine exhibit a greater effect at the neuromuscular blockers - these drugs can be used to reverse the effects of neuromuscular blockers.
Describe the potential toxic affects of Cholinesterase inhibitors ?
Toxic affects of Cholinesterase inhibitors
Physostigmine = like most organophosphates can cross the blood brain barrier freelyleading to convulsions, CNS depression, unconsiousness and respiratory failure.
- ACHE inhibitors may cause synergistic effects with phenothiazine tranquilizers
- contraindicated during succinyl choline administration
Questions
Receptor types involved = muscarinic receptors
Organ funtion specific effects
- Heart and vasculature = slow heart rate (bradycardia) and high blood pressure
- Lung = bronchoconstrictions + increase in secretions
- Gastrointestinal = increase motility and secretions + relaxed sphincters
- Urogenital = increased contraction + relaxation of sphincter
Treatment options and rationale
- Atropine muscurinic receptor antagonist
- dilution of poison and expulsion
If no mechanical block is identified what is a suitable drug to treat gluacoma in cats ?
Glaucoma
Pilocarpine
C) Stimulation of Muscarinic receptors
E = Expulsion of a retained placenta following farrowing in pigs
E. O-Isopropyl-methylphosphono fluridate sarin
E. Organophosphate poisoning
Provide two examples of Muscarinic receptor antagonist and their pharmacological affects ?
Muscarinic receptor antagonist
Atropine and (Glycopyrrolate synthetic derivative)
Pharmacological affects
competitive antagonism
- inhibition of glandular secretions
- low dose transient reflex (bradycardia HR too slow)
- high dose tachycardia (HR too high) due to increased inhibition of pacemaker activity
- pupillary dilation (impairment of near vision)
- relax smooth muscles spasmolytic
- treatment of acute asthma attacks
- treatment of organophosphate poisoning
- treatment of muscarine poisoning
Describe the important clinical applications of using the muscarinic recetor antagonist of Atropine or Glycopyrrolate ?
Clinical applications of Atropine and Glycopyrrolate
- Pre-medication for anaesthesia inhibits bronchial and saliva secretions + prevent bronchial constriction
- Induction of pupil dilation and paralysis of accomodation
- Spasmolytics (muscle relaxannts GI, uterine, bronchial etc)
- Asthma
- Treatment of organophosphate poisoning
- Treating muscarine poisoning
Detail the toxicity of Atropine ?
Toxicity Atropine
- species and rout of administration dependant
- it is dependant upon the route of administration and species involved ( horses and ruminants are more susceptable to parental doses).
Symptoms
- dry mouth thirst
- constipation colic
- tachycardia
- ataxia (reduced coordination)
- dysphagia
- mydriasis
- hyperpnea
Detail the clinical application of 2-Pralidoxime (2-PAM)
2-PAM
Organophosphate poisoning = action is by inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase enzyme (ACHE), this prevents the breakdown of ACH and results in excessive activation of the parasympathetic response
- used in the treatment of organophosphates time dependant
- dissociates the organophosphate from ACHE active site
- 2-PAM is usually used concurrently with a muscarinic receptor blocker eg Atropine
Note over time the organophosphate becomes covalently bonded and irreversable - time dependant
How do you distinguish between depolarising and non-depolarising nicotinic blockers and provide examples?
A depolarizing nicotinic blocker such as Succinylcholine acts similarly to ACH by causing depolarisation of the postsynaptic memebranes. Unlike ACTH Succinylcholine is not readily broken down resulting in stimulation followed by a period of paralysis normally lasting 5mins as the synapse is fatigued.
- succinylcholine, nicotine, suxamethonium, and decamethonium
A non depolarising agent such as Atracurium or Pancuronium dose not result in depolarisation. It’s action is elicited by competitive inhibition of the nicotinic receptor.
- Atracurium, Pancuronium
When using Succinylcholine what is a phase one and phase two block ?
A = Atropine
Muscarine is a alkaloid which causes stimulation of muscarinic receptors - Atropine is a muscarinic receptor antagonist
B. 2-PAM dissociates organophosphate from the recepyor
It’s action is time dependant as as the interaction with organophosphates becomes covalent and irreversable
C. Acetylcholine and nicotinic receptors
D. Succinylcholine
Provide two examples of non depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents ?
A. Atracurium
D. Muscarinic subtype M2 via acetylcholine
5A = pilocarpine, bethanecol, pilocarpine
5B = atropine, scopolamine, glycopyrrolate
5C = neostigmine, physostigmine and organophosphates
AA
C.
E.
D.
E.
A.
E.
B.
A.
C.
B.
A.
A.
B. Beta 1 receptors
1) Alpha 1 receptors Adrenaline, Noreadrenaline and dopamine
2) Selective alpha 2 receptor agonist = Xylazine, Medetomidine
3) Apha 1, Beta1 and Beta 2 agonist = Adrenaline, Noreadrenaline
4) Selective Beat 2 agonist = Salbutamol, Terbutaline, and Clenbuetrol
5) Dopamine, Alpha1 and Beta1 agonist = Dopamine
B. Beta 1 receptors excitory
selective for the heart Dobutamine
D. Highly selective for Beta 1 receptors
C. Beta 2 agonist Salbutamol
avoids a systemic response