The Cholonergic System Flashcards

1
Q

Where is this found?

A

in the periphery - acetylcholine at neuromuscular junction and synapses in the autonomy ganglia

in the brain - basal forebrain complex, projections to hippocampus and cortex

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2
Q

What is the pontomesencephalotegmental complex?

A

Cholinergic link between the brain stem and the Baal forebrain complex

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3
Q

What are cholinergic interneurons?

A

Messes with other neurons near by and modulates their activity

each interneuron innervates 1000’s of local principle neurons and modulates activity

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4
Q

How is acetylcholine synthesised?

A

It is made from choline - amount of choline is the rate limited step

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5
Q

How is it metabolised?

A

Rapidly degraded in synaptic clef but acetylcholinesterase - choline is transported back into the presynaptic terminal and coverted to acetylcholine

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6
Q

How is acetylcholinesterase made?

A

By the cholinergic neuron, secreted into synaptic cleft

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7
Q

What drugs affect the release, storage and degradation?

A

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors - block the breakdown of ACh thus prolonging its action in the synaptic cleft. for example, physostigmine - treats alzeimers (the cognitive decline) and myasthenia gravis

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8
Q

What is myasthenia gravis?

A

Autoimmune disorders - where AchR is destroyed - get a droopy eye, characterised by muscle weakness

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9
Q

What is acetylcholine?

A

Causes muscles to contract, activates pain responses and regulates endocrine and REM sleep functions

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10
Q

What drugs affect the vesicle docking and release?

A

Botulinum and tetanus toxins - blocks the docking of vesicles by attacking SNARE’s - no release. Tetaus toxins is transported and works inhibitory on cholinergic motor neurons of spinal cord - they constantly fire, resulting in permanent muscle contraction, lock jaw

Botox acts directly at synapse in metro-muscular junction - the muscles lose all input so become relaxed

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11
Q

What are the disorders of the cholinergic system?

A

Peripheral - myasthenia gravis (destroys cholinergic receptos in the muscle, muscle weakness)

Brain - alzeimers (loss of cholinergic neurons in basic ganglia)

Addition - nicotine

Epilepsy - mutations in nicotinic receptor genes

Schizophrenia

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