week 5 + 6: psychopharmacology and NT

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What is psychopharmacology?
Study of effects of drug on NS and behaviour
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What is synaptic strength?
the average change in voltage in a postsynaptic neurone, dependent on an action potential
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Why does the synaptic strength vary?
Due to disease, genetic differences, environment and drugs
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What is Myasthenia Gravis?
An autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys ACh receptors on skeletal muscle
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Why does a lack ACh cause the muscle weakness/ paralysis in Myasthenia Gravis?
ACh regulates muscular contraction communication in relay neurones.
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What disease is an example of a dopaminergic pathway issue?
Parkinson's Diease
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What is Parkinson's disease?
A neurological disorder due to the degeneration of neurones that release dopamine in the brain.
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What are some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
Tremor, limb rigidity, poor balance, lack of coordination.
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Why does a lack of dopamine cause some of the symptoms in Parkinson's disease?
Dopamine is involved in controlling movement and posture.
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What alternation in synaptic strength leads to depression?
seronintonic or norephininc pathways are effected.
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What are drugs?
Exogenous chemicals, unnecessary for normal functioning.
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What are the two main types of drugs in the way they affect synaptic transmission?
Agonists and Antagonists
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What do agonist drugs do?
facilitate / mimic action of a NT
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Where do drugs affect NT synthesis?
In presynaptic neuron, specifically they modify concentration in the synaptic cleft.
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How do drugs affect NT synthesis?
Via 2 modes of alteration affecting the precursor: inactivate and introduce.
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What type of drug inactivates the precursor enzymes?
Antagonist
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What type of drug introduces the precursor molecules?
Agonist
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What disease can the precursor L-DOPA to dopamine treat?
Parkinson's
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Parkinson's disease is treated by...
Increasing availability of a NT precursor
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What proteins in vesicle membranes move NTs from the cytoplasm into the vesicles?
Transporter
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How do antagonist drugs effect transporter proteins?
They inactivate them, so the vesicles remain empty
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What is an example of a agonist drug affecting NT synthesis?
L-DOPA precursor
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What is an example of an antagonist drug that effects NT storage in vesicles?
Snakeroot aka Reserpine
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How do antagonist drugs effect release of NTs?
They prevent release of NT
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What is an example of an antagonist drug that effects release of NT?
Botulinum toxin prevents ACh release
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How does an Agonist drug effect release of NTs?
Triggers NT release
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What is an example of an agonist drug effecting release of NTs?
Black Widow Spider venom stimulates ACh release
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How do drugs affect NT receptors?
They modify post synaptic potentials
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What two types of binding sites are there for NT receptors on post synaptic nerves?
Competitive and non competitive binding
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What is competitive binding?
When a drug binds with the same place as the NT, thus blocking it from acting.
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What do agonists do at receptor sites?
Mimic natural NT action on receptors
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What is the difference between direct and indirect agonists on NT receptors?
Direct directly open ion channels, indirect bind to different sites from the NT but still open channels.
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What receptors does nicotine stimulate?
ACh receptors
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What type of drug is nicotine?
Direct agonist
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How do antagonists behave on NT receptors?
They block natural NT action on receptors
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How does a direct antagonist work differently from an indirect antagonist?
Direct work against the NT so will keep the ion channels closed, indirect bind to a different site but still hinder opening channels.
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When Curare blocks ACh receptors what does it cause?
Paralysis
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What type of drug is Curare?
Direct antagonist
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How do agonists affect re-uptake of NTs?
They reduce or block re-uptake increasing NT in synaptic cleft.
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What direct agonist blocks the dopamine pathway?
Cocaine
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What do antagonists do?
Prevent storage of NTs in vesicles
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What is the most commonly used psychoactive drug?
Caffeine
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What type of drug is caffeine?
direct antagonist
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Why is caffeine a direct antagonist?
The adenosine pathway is liberated by caffeine consumption
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What was the first antidepressant developed?
Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors
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What is the most recent antidepressant developed?
Psilocybin
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When were antidepressants first developed?
1952
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What antidepressant was developed in 1957?
Tricyclics
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What antidepressants were developed in 1987?
SSRIs
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What is the most common explanation of depression?
The monoamine hypothesis
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What is the monoamine hypothesis?
Proposes patients with depression have depleted levels of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is synaptic strength?

Back

the average change in voltage in a postsynaptic neurone, dependent on an action potential

Card 3

Front

Why does the synaptic strength vary?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is Myasthenia Gravis?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why does a lack ACh cause the muscle weakness/ paralysis in Myasthenia Gravis?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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