1 / 25

Neurotransmitters and Pharmacology

Neurotransmitters and Pharmacology. Mindy M. Escobar Argyle V. Bumanglag September 20, 2007. Neurotransmission. Why is it important to regulate the amount of neurotransmitter present in the synapse?. Serotonin. Plays an important role in regulation of: Aggression Appetite

zoe
Download Presentation

Neurotransmitters and Pharmacology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Neurotransmitters and Pharmacology Mindy M. Escobar Argyle V. Bumanglag September 20, 2007

  2. Neurotransmission

  3. Why is it important to regulate the amount of neurotransmitter present in the synapse?

  4. Serotonin Plays an important role in regulation of: Aggression Appetite Body temperature Sleep Vomiting Mood Sexuality Anger

  5. Principle source of serotonin Raphe nuclei

  6. Serotonin receptor distribution

  7. Serotonergic Synapse

  8. Psychedelic serotonin modulation Mood, thought processes and concentration Appetite Psychomotor control and perception Emotional responses

  9. Hallucinogens (LSD) • Serotonin antagonist • Completely blocks activity of Raphe nuclei • Results in disinhibition of critical control systems over sensation, sleep, attention, and mood

  10. MDMA (ecstasy) • Increases serotonin release and blocks reuptake • Enhances communication, reduces psychological defenses, and increases capacity for introspection • Significant risk for chronic physical harm

  11. Therapeutic serotonin modulation www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/brainstorm/br6305.htm

  12. Tricyclics Examples: Vivactil, Elavil, Norpramin, Asendin, Anafranil

  13. SSRIs Examples: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa

  14. Dopamine Synthesis Pathway (1) Pre-synaptic DA neuron (2) (3) (6) DA Transporter (4) (5)

  15. Dopamine Receptors • All DA receptors are G-protein-coupled metabotropic receptors • There are 5 subtypes of dopamine (DA) receptors that can be grouped into 2 main classes: D1 and D2 receptors • D1 receptors include subtypes D1 and D5 • D1 receptors are the most abundant and widespread in areas receiving DA innervation • D1 receptors mediate peripheral effects - renal vasodilatation and increased myocardial contractility • D2 receptors include D2,D3, and D4 • Antipsychotic drugs show a high affinity for the D2 receptors, which may play a role in schizophrenia • D3 receptors found on the presynaptic terminal act to inhibit DA synthesis and release

  16. Dopamine Pathways 3 Major Pathways in the CNS (1) Nigrostriatal system • Motor control (2) Mesolimbic/mesocortical pathway • Behavioral effects (3) Tuberohypophyseal system • Endocrine control (2) (1) (3)

  17. Cocaine • Derived from the leaves of the coca plant, which grows in some South American Countries • One of the major psychostimulants of abuse • Mechanisms of Action • produces massive release of dopamine into the synaptic cleft • blocks the neuronal re-uptake transport system for catecholamines (DA, NE, 5-HT) • euphoric effects are due to its effects on DA • Other uses • medical use as a local anesthetic Coca plant

  18. Cocaine: Mechanisms of Action

  19. Cocaine: Effects • Psychomotor effects (DA mediated) • Euphoria • Increased motor activity • Magnification of pleasure • Peripheral effects • Tachycardia • Vasoconstriction • Increased blood pressure • Adverse effects • Hypertension • Vasospasm of arteries • Myocardial infarcts • Stroke • Impaired brain development in utero • High risk for dependency

  20. Dopamine Reward Pathways http://thebrain.mcgill.ca

  21. Parkinson’s Disease • Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic movement disorder first described in 1817 by James Parkinson • It typically starts around the age of 60, although 5-10% exhibit signs before the age of 40 • Clinical symptoms • Usually begins with a slight tremor or stiffness involving an arm or leg on one side of the body • Prominent tremor at rest and occurs at a frequency of 3-6 per second • Pill rolling • Limb rigidity • Akinesia • Bradykinesia • Characteristic gait, drooling, eye blinking, and a frozen facial expression

  22. Parkinson’s Disease • Clinical manifestations are caused by a network dysfunction of the basal ganglia • In the normal brain, DA projections from the substantia nigra maintain normal function in basal ganglia • Degeneration of DA neurons in the substantia nigra removes a DA-mediated inhibition that makes normal movement possible • Clinical signs begin when approximately 40% of DA neurons have died and approximately 50% of the DA in axon terminals of the basal ganglia has been depleted

  23. Anatomy of the Basal Ganglia www.dana.org

  24. Parkinson’s Disease http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroslides/slide199.html

  25. Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease • Goal of therapy • Restore the deficit in DA receptor function • Inhibit muscarinic cholinergic receptors • Drugs used in treatment of Parkinson’s Disease • Levodopa • Most widely used form of therapy for Parkinson’s Disease • Converted to DA, thereby restoring concentration of DA at the basal ganglia • DA receptor agonists • Mimics the effects of endogenous dopamine • Less effective than levodopa • Monoamine (MAO) inhibitors • Inhibition of MAO increases DA concentration within cells and at the postsynaptic receptor • Muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists • Affect the tremor more than the rigidity and hypokinesia • Amantidine • Antiviral drug that was accidentally found to have anti-PD effects • Mechanism uncertain but probably increases endogenous DA

More Related