Why do we have a test about neurotransmitters in this class? Flashcards
What does the term cholinergic refer to? Anticholinergic?
Cholinergic refers to the release or response of acetylcholine
Anticholinergic blocks the release or response to acetylcholine
What are the effects of decreased central acetylcholine (ACh)?
Decreased central acetylcholine can result in confusion, anxiety, agitation, dementia, and hallucinations.
What conditions are treated with therapies that increase central ACh?
Primarily to treat dementia, but also used in schizophrenia and autism.
- When might you prescribe a medication that decreases central ACh?
Vertigo, especially motion sickness.
- In the somatic NS, where is ACh used as the neurotransmitter
a. Neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle
- In the sympathetic NS, where is ACh used as the neurotransmitter
a. At ganglia, adrenal medulla, and sweat glands
- In the parasympathetic NS, where is ACh used as the neurotransmitter
At ganglia and at parasympathetic end-organs.
- What is the effect of increased ACh on skeletal muscle? When might you want to increase ACh in skeletal muscle?
a. Increased Ach causes skeletal muscle spasms and/or spastic paralysis.
b. Therapies that increase Ach skeletal muscle activity are used for muscle weakness, as in myasthenia gravis.
- What is the effect of decreased Ach on skeletal muscle? When might you want to decrease ACh in skeletal muscle?
a. Decreased Ach causes skeletal muscle weakness and/or flaccid paralysis.
b. Therapies that decrease Ach skeletal muscle activity are used for muscle spasm (e.g. Botox).
What are the effects of increased ACh on eyes
constricted pupils
What are the effects of increased ACh on heart
bradycardia
What are the effects of increased ACh on lungs
bronchoconstriction
What are the effects of increased ACh on GI
vomiting/diarrhea
What are the effects of increased ACh on sweat glands
increased sweating
What are the effects of increased ACh on salivary glands
increased salivation
What are the effects of increased ACh on bladder/urination
increased urination
- What conditions are treated by increasing the parasympathetic effects of ACh?
a. Therapies that increase peripheral Ach are used for Sjogren’s syndrome, delayed gastric emptying and glaucoma.
What conditions are treated by decreasing the parasympathetic effects of ACh?
a. Therapies that decrease peripheral Ach activity are used for bradycardia, hyperhidrosis, incontinence, IBS-D, COPD.
- What are the names of some tropane alkaloids? What are the effects of tropane alkaloids on ACh? What plants contain tropane alkaloids?
Atropine (from Belladonna), hyoscyamine (from Hyoscyamus), and scopolamine (from Datura) are naturally occurring tropane alkaloids that act as ACh antagonists. Other tropane alkaloids may act as stimulants (cocaine)
- What are the precursors for ACh synthesis?
Acetyl CoA + choline
Note: Acetyl CoA is made via cellular metabolism, choline is obtained from diet (lecithin)
- What enzyme breaks down ACh? How does inhibition of this enzyme affect ACh concentration in the synaptic cleft? What are these inhibitors used for?
Acetylcholinesterase (AChe). Inhibition of AChe results in increased and prolonged transmission of cholinergic transmission. AChe’s may be used for Alzheimer’s (Donepezil, Huperzine A, Rivastigmine), as an insecticide, as a nerve gas, for glaucoma/delayed gastric emptying/ antidote to tropane alkaloid poisoning (Physostigmine), or myasthenia gravis (Edrophonium).