Semester 1 Module 10 - Drug Action Flashcards
The brain is composed of how many neurons?
86 billion
What is Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential? (EPSP)
increases the likelihood of an action potential, positively charged ion flow into cell, addictive effect = depolarisation.
What is Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential? (IPSP)
decrease the likelihood of an action potential, negatively charged ions flow into the cell or positively charged ions flow out of the cell, addictive effect = hyperpolarisation.
What is glutamate?
A major excitatory neuron.
What is gama-aminobutyric acid? (GABA)
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter.
increased glutamate and decreased GABA/GABA receptors are both linked to what?
seizures
What are the cholinergic pathways in the brain?
Acetylcholine. linked with arousal, attention, and memory. increased sensory perception on waking, damage results in memory deficits.
What are the Dopaminergic pathways the brain?
Dopamine. linked with reward motivate behaviour, increase involved in motor control, role in addition, PD and ADHD.
What are the NE pathways in the brain?
Norepinephrine/noradrenaline. mobilises body and brain for action (fight or flight), regulates arousal and alertness, linked with memory and attention.
What are the serotonergic pathways in the brain?
Seratonin. predominantly associated with mood.
Explain antagonist vs agonist drugs.
In normal non-drug use, natural substances end up at the receptor site, which leads to normal cellular activity. With agonist drug use, the drug reaches the receptor site in place of a natural substance, which leads to enhanced cellular activity. With antagonist drugs, the drug blocks the receptor, which leads to blocked cellular activity.
What are some examples of antagonist and agonist drugs?
Agonist drugs include nicotine (increased ACh activity, increased attention), and opioids (pain relief and sedation). Antagonist drugs include Botox (blocks acetylcholine release, prevents muscle contractions) and caffeine (blocks adenosine receptors, increased awakeness).
What are indirect agonist drugs?
Drugs that enhance the actions or release of neurotransmitters but have no individual effect on receptors, such as alcohol.
How does alcohol affect the brain?
Considered an indirect agonist drug. increases GABA which decreases CNS activity, and increases dopamine, endogenous opioids = reward pathways in the brain.
What are TCAs?
tricyclic antidepressants. developed in 1950s, common treatment until SSRIs. side effects included sedation due to histamine H1 receptor blockage and blurred vision, dry mouth, and constipation due to muscarinic acetylcholine blockage.
