Pharmacology- Drugs affecting vasculature and blood pressure

Question 1

What confers the ability for muscle contraction?

Answer 1

Concentration of intracellular calcium

Question 2

By which two methods can calcium levels within vascular smooth muscle be elevated?

Answer 2

1. Opening L-type calcium channels (depolarisation)

2. Release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum (mediated by Gq11)

Question 3

How is myosin light chain kinase activated?

Answer 3

When calcium binds to calmodulin it can activate MLCK

Question 4

What happens to myosin light chain during relaxation?

Answer 4

Myosin light chain phosphatase will dephosphorylate MLC allowing for relaxation

Question 5

How is myosin light chain phosphotase activated?

Answer 5

Protein kinase G (activated by cGMP)

Question 6

Name three vasodilating substance found naturally in the body

Answer 6

1. Bradykinin
2. ADP
3. 5-HT (hydroxytrypatamine)- seratonin