Regulating Dopamine Levels Flashcards
Describe the extrapyramidal motor system?
Dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra give tonic inhibition to cholinergic neurons in corpus striatum
Cholinergic neurons in corpus striatum give excitatory input to inhibitory interneurons
Inhibitory interneurons give inhibitory input to spinal cord
Inhibition of output to skeletal muscle
What happens in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Death of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra
Describe the time course of PD
Chronic
Progressive
What is PD a disorder of?
Muscle movement
What are the motor signs and symptoms of PD?
Tremor Rigidity of limbs Bradykinesia Impairment of postural reflexes Facial - Impassive - No blinking Speech - Monotonous - Hypophonic Movement - Decreased manual dexterity
What are the non-motor signs and symptoms of PD?
Cognitive deficiencies Depression Raised anxiety levels Olfactory deficiencies Sleep disturbances Fatigue Pain Bowel and bladder problems Sexual dysfunction
What is one of the first symptoms of PD?
Lack of smell
How many dopaminergic neurons are destroyed by the time motor deficits emerge?
80%
What is diagnostic of PD?
Reduced dopamine levels
Lewy bodies present at post-morten
How many cases of PD are genetic?
10%
When do genetic cases of PD tend to develop?
At younger age
How many people have no known genetic mutations?
90%
What is the biggest risk factor for developing PD?
Age
What do drugs do in PD?
Provide symptomatic relief
How can dopamine deficiency be restored?
Increase dopamine synthesis
Increase dopamine release
Dopamine receptor agonists
Reduce dopamine metabolism
What is necessary to balance if you’re exogenously increasing dopamine levels?
Decrease ACh levels to keep balance
- Via cholinergic antagonists
Does dopamine cross the BBB?
No
What is L-DOPA converted to in the body?
Dopamine
What is the effect of ingesting dopamine?
Emetic
How is dopamine stored in the neuron?
Packaged into vesicles
What is reserpine?
Depletes dopamine
What is the gold standard therapy of PD?
L-DOPA
How do you increase dopamine synthesis?
Give levodopa
What is levodopa?
Amino acid isomer
How much levodopa is metabolised in the periphery?
Over 90%
What is done to increase levodopa bioavailability?
Block dopadecarboxylases (DDC) in peripheral tissues
What are the peripheral effects of levodopa because of its conversion to dopamine and noradrenaline?
Nausea
Vomiting
Orthostatic hypotension
Cardiac dysrhythmias
What is levodopa formulated with?
Peripheral DDC inhibitor
- Carbidopa
- Benserazide
What is needed for levodopa to work?
Some functional dopaminergic neurons
What are the beneficial effects of levodopa?
Reduces rigidity
Reduces tremors
Reduces other symptoms
When is levodopa given?
First line of treatment
When is levodopa rapidly absorbed from the stomach?
When it’s empty