Pharmacology Flashcards
Describe phase 4 of action potential in cardiac myocytes
Outward flux of potassium through Ik1 is dominant. Vm is not exactly Ek as there is a small inward movement of sodium.
During phase 4 how is the concentration gradient maintained?
Sodium-potassium pump
Describe phase 0 of action potential in cardiac myocytes
sodium channels rapidly open, Ina resulting in an inward flux of sodium
Why is phase 0 only brief?
Sodium channels enter an inactivate state which they only recover from after repolarisation
Describe phase 1 of action potential in cardiac myocytes?
Rapid inactivation of Ina, activation of transient outward potassium current called Ito
What happens to calcium in phase 2?
moves through L type channels relatively slowly to produce a ICaL current
What happens to potassium in phase 2?
Ik1 decreases Ito continues but reduced with time as voltage gated rectifier channels open
Describe phase 3 of action potential in cardiac myocytes
Outward flux of potassium is dominant as ICaL, calcium channels begin to inactivate white more Ikr and Iks activate
What is the difference between atrial and ventricular cardiac cells?
phase 2 is less evident in atrial myocytes as there is an additional ultra rapid potassium rectifier current Ikur
Describe what happens in nodal tissue
Depolarisation is caused by opening of L type calcium channels when a threshold is reached. When the potential reaches 10mV delayed rectifier potassium channels open bringing about repolarisation
How is pacemaker potential regulated?
- potassium efflux - calcium influx - HCN response to hyper polarisation by moving sodium into the cell
Define automaticity
spontaneously polarise without external stimuli
Describe the funny current
hyper polarisation activates ‘hyper-polarisation activated cyclic nucleotide gated channels’ HCN
What drug can be used to block HCN?
Ivabradine - used to decrease the pacemaker slope and reduce heart rate in angina.
Describe sympathetic regulation of cardiac rate and force
noradrenaline & adrenaline activate beta1 adrenoceptors in nodal and myocardial cells
What is the effect of an activated beta 1 adrenoceptor?
coupling through Gs alpha subunit stimulates adenylyl cyclase to increase the intracellular concentration of cAMP producing cellular responses
Name seven cellular responses caused by activation through Gs beta 1 adrenoceptors
- increase SA node action potential frequency & heart rate due to enhanced If and ICaL
- increase contractility due to increase in calcium influx
- increase conduction velocity in AV node due to enhance If and ICaL
- increase automaticity
- increase activity of sodium potassium pump - increase mass of cardiac muscle
- decrease in duration of systole
What does activation of cAMP do?
- increases calcium influx by phosphorylation of the channel to enhance contraction
- increase rate of calcium pump to increase the rate of contraction
Describe parasympathetic regulation of cardiac rate and force
acetylcholine activated M2 muscarinic cholinoceptors in nodal cells
What is the effect of activating M2 muscarinic receptors?
coupling through Gi protein; - via alpha subunit inhibits adenylyl cyclase & reduces cAMP - via beta/gamma subunit dimer, opens specific potassium channels (GIRKs in SA node)
What does signalling through Gi activation cause?
- decreased SA node action potential and heart rate due to reduced ICaL and If
- decreased contractility due to decrease in phase 2, decreased calcium
- decreased conduction in AV node due to decreased calcium channels & hyper polarisation via GIRKs
Name a medical condition parasympathetic stimulation can cause
arrhythmias
In six steps briefly describe contraction
- ventricular action potential
- opening of voltage activated calcium channels mainly L type during phase 2
- calcium influx into cytoplasm
- calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
- calcium binds to troponin C and shifts tropomyosin our of the actin
- cross bridge formation between actin and myosin results in contraction via the sliding filament mechanism
Name the channels calcium moves through in calcium induced calcium release
Ryanodine type 2 channels
In six steps describe relaxation
- repolarisation in phase 3/4
- voltage activated L type calcium channels return to closed state
- calcium influx ceases, calcium efflux occurs by the sodium/calcium exchanger
- calcium release from the SR ceases, active removal of calcium from the cytoplasm by the calcium pump
- calcium dissociated from troponin C
- cross bridges between actin and myosin break causing relaxation
Give three examples of beta agonists
- dobutamine - adrenaline - noradrenaline
What is the effect of beta agonists?
enhance the sympathetic system - increase force, rate and cardiac output - decrease efficiency due to increased oxygen consumption
Name two clinical uses of adrenaline
- cardiac arrest - anaphylactic shock
Name one clinical use of dobutamine
- reversible heart failure
What does the effect of beta antagonists depend on?
How much the sympathetic system is activated
Name the three types of beta antagonist
Non-selective (act on beta 1 and 2 receptors) Selective (act on beta 1 or 2) Partial
Give an example for each type of antagonist
non-selective - propranolol selective - atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol partial - alprenolol
What are the pharmacodynamic effects of beta blockers?
little effect at rest but reduce rate, force and output during exercise. Coronary vessel diameter is reduced
Name four clinical uses of beta blockers
- arrhythmias - angina - heart failure - hypertension
Describe how a beta blocker can be used to treat arrhythmias
excess stress can cause tachycardia or spontaneous activation of pacemaker cells. Beta blockers decrease excess sympathetic drive to restore sinus rhythm and delay conduction through the AV node
State six adverse effects of beta blockers
- bronchospasm - aggravation of cardiac failure - bradycardia - hypoglycaemia - fatigue - cold extremities
Give an example of a non-selective muscarinic antagonist
atropine
Name the pharmacodynamic effect of atropine
- increase heart rate - no effect on arterial BP or response to exercise
State two clinical uses of atropine
- bradycardia particularly following an MI - anti cholinesterase poisoning
What is digoxin?
A cardiac glycoside that increases contractility of the heart
How does heart failure occur?
when the cardiac output is insufficient to provide adequate tissue perfusion
Name the class of drugs that enhance contractility
inotropic drugs
How do inotropic drugs work?
- inhibit sodium potassium pump
- increase sodium and reduce Vm
- decrease sodium/calcium exchange to increase calcium
- increase storage of calcium in SR
- increase CICR and increase contractility
What does digoxin bind to? When is it dangerous?
alpha subunit of sodium potassium pump in competition with potassium. Dangerous when potassium levels are low
Name three clinical uses of digoxin
- IV in acute heart failure - Orally in chronic heart failure - Atrial fibrillation
State six adverse effects of digoxin
- excessive depression of AV node conduction
- propensity to cause arrhythmias
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- disturbances in colour vision
What does levosimendan do?
- Binds to troponin C in cardiac muscle sensitising it to the action of calcium. - Opens Katp channels in vascular smooth muscle causing vasodilatation
Name two indilators
- amrinone - milrinone
What do indilators do?
- Inhibit PDE in cardiac and smooth muscle cells therefore increasing cAMP - increase contractility and decrease peripheral resistance
Name three anti-cholesterol drug classes
- statins - fibrates - PCSK 9 Inhibitors
Name three anti-hypertensive drug classes
- diuretics - beta blockers - vasodilators
Name four anti-anginas drugs
State three uses of organic nitrates
- to treat acute angina 2. prophylaxis for angina 3. to treat pulmonary oedema
State three uses of calcium channel blockers
- to treat hypertension 2. to treat stable angina 3. to control heart rate in patients with supra ventricular arrhythmias
Define angina
pain that occurs when the oxygen supply to the myocardium is insufficient to meet metabolic demands
What are the three types of angina?
- stable - unstable - variant
Describe stable angina
fixed narrowing of the coronary vessels as a consequence of atherosclerosis - characterised by pain on exertion
Describe unstable angina
due to platelet -fibrin thrombus in association with an atheromatous plaque - characterised by pain to less and less exertion
What is variant angina associated with?
coronary artery spasm
What do organic nitrates get converted into?
Nitric oxide
What is the result of nitric oxide formation?
- venorelaxation - arteriolar dilatation - increased coronary blood flow - decreased preload, after load & improved perfusion
In patients with angina what are the added benefits of increased blood flow & decreased preload?
Increased blood flow - redirected to ischaemic area Decreased preload - decreased myocardial oxygen requirement
Describe how blood can be equally distributed in the myocardium
Due to plaques narrowing the arteries untreated CAD will lead to reduced flow to ischamic myocardium. However, nitrates dilate the collateral and therefore allow even distribution to both normal and ischaemic areas
Name two types of nitrate used to treat angina
- Glyceryltrinitrate
- Isosorbide Mononitrate
Describe GTN
- short acting (30mins) undergoes first pass metabolism
- administered sublingually as a tablet or spray
- can be delivered as a transdermal patch for a sustained effect
- Before exertion in stable angina or IV with aspirin in unstable angina
Describe ISMN
- longer acting, resistant to first pass metabolism
- administered orally for prophylaxis & sustained effect
What are the side effects of organic nitrates?
- headaches
- hypotension & fainting
- reflex tachycardia (prevented by beta blockers)
- formation of methaemoglobin (oxidation product of haemoglobin which does not carry oxygen)
What is meant by tolerance?
Repeated administration may be associated with a diminished effect, most likely to occur in long acting drugs
How do calcium channel blockers work?
Physically block or prevent the opening of L type channels in excitable tissues in response to depolarisation & so limit increased calcium
State the three main types of calcium channel blocker
- verapamil (selective for cardiac L type channels, block channels)
- amlodipine (smooth muscle L type channels, act alosterically to prevent opening)
- diltiazem (intermediate selectivity)