Pharmacology of the CNS

Question 1

What are the criteria for a NT?

Answer 1

Stored in vesicles
Released from neuron terminal
Effect on target cell polarisation
Termination of effect

Question 2

What are the properties of CNS NTs?

Answer 2

Agonists
Excitatory/inhibitory
Fast neurotransmission via ion channels
Slow neuromodulation via GPCRs

Question 3

What are the AA NTs and their effects?

Answer 3

Glutamate - excitatory
GABA - inhibitory
Glycine - inhibitory in spinal cord, excitatory at NMDAR

Question 4

Name two peptide NTs and their effects

Answer 4

Opioids - inhibitory

Substance P - excitatory

Question 5

Which NTs have mixed effects?

Answer 5

ACh, NA, 5HT, DA

Question 6

Name the glutamate receptors and their responses

Answer 6

AMPA - Na+ influx
Kainate - Na+ influx
NMDA - Na+ and Ca2+ influx
mGluR - 2nd messenger activation

Question 7

What is the effect of nAChRs?

Answer 7

Excitation

Question 8

What is the effect of mAChRs?

Answer 8

Excitation and inhibition

Question 9

Name the monoamine NTs

Answer 9

NA, DA, 5HT

Question 10

What are the approaches to treatments involving CNS NTs?

Answer 10

Increase NT function - precursor, block uptake, block breakdown
Agonist
Decrease NT function - receptor antagonist

Question 11

What are the problems in CNS drug therapies?

Answer 11

Multiple receptors for each NT
Receptor up/downregulation to drugs
Action at multiple sites
BBB
Disinhibition
Long-term effects
NT coexistence