Bio 1-L22- Neuropharmacology

what is needed for communication between nerves and target cells

• needs action potentials and release of neurotransmitters

what happens at synapses

• neurotransmitters diffuse short distances and bind to receptors- chemical

how do signalling molecules trigger a response?

1. NT bind to a receptor

2. causes transduction of the signal

3. activates a response such as opening an ion channel, activates G protein etc

motor neurons- what do they do and where?

• final pathway- various regions of CNS control skeletal muscle- spinal cord, motor regions of cortex

  • help with contraction etc

what does acetylcholine do?

• there are ACH receptors at the neuromuscular junction- responds to nicotine

• when activated- ion channels open and causes depolarisation

what junction is vulnerable to chemicals and diseases and give examples

• black widow- release of ACH- respiratory failure

• botulism- blocks ACH- paralysis

• curare- blocks ACH at site- arrow poison

what does the autonomic nervous system do?

regulates breathing, digestion- involuntary things

ANS- where are receptors located

• left- sympathetic- dilates eyes, accelerates etc

• right- parasymthetic

sympathetic- what is released from where

• fight or flight

• ACH from pre ganglionic

• Noradrenaline from post ganglionic

• release of noradrenaline from adrenal gland

these are very close to the spinal cord and are very short. synapses with the ganglia

parasympathetic- what is released and from where?

• ACH- release from pre and post ganglionic neurons

ACH and NAD- what types of receptors are each

• ACH- cholinergic

• NAD- adrenergic

tissues in the autonomic system have what type of receptors for postganglionic neurotransmitters

1. cholinergic- bind ACH

2. nicotinic- on postganglionic of all ganglia

3. muscarinic- on effector cell membranes

4. adrenergic receptors- bind noradrenaline and adrenaline- has alpha and beta

what do the hypothalamus and medulla do?

• hypothalamus- autonomic, somatic and endocrine- emotional and behavioural

• medulla- responsible for autonomic output

examples of ANS pharmacology

• inhalers- bronchodilators- open and relax airways to be able to breath- targets andrergic on smooth muscles

• mimics noradrenaline- sympathetic

diseases relating to ANS

• parkinsons- dopamine- dopaminergic in basal nulcei. low dopamine cannot pass blood.brain

• alzheimers- associated with alzeihmers