Psychology 462 Exam 2

________ is the synthesis precursor for dopamine.

Tyrosine

With repeated drug administration, the body begins to compensate for drug use by causing symptoms opposite of what the drug causes. This phenomenon is called:

Withdrawal

muscarinic receptors

a metabotropic acetylcholine receptor that is stimulated by muscarine and blocked by atropine (bella donna pupil dilation)

________ is the primary efferent neurotransmitter secreted by efferent axons of the CNS.

acetylcholine

If you take a drug long enough, it can create a tolerance. Tolerance with a drug can lead to which of the following?

addiction

Differences in effectiveness between two drugs that share the same site of action would be expected to result from their different

affinities of the site of action

Willamina has taken a drug in the last hour that increases activity in the synapses between her neurons. The result was an increase in the overall effect of specific neurotransmitters. What category of drug would this be?

agonist

Drugs that facilitate postsynaptic receptor effects are termed

agonists

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are

agonists

Drugs that block or inhibit postsynaptic receptor effects

antagonist

Seroquel is a drug that decreases the effect of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine at synapses. For that reason, this drug could be considered a(n) ______.

antagonist

Which pair of drugs below are antagonists for the muscarinic and nicotinic (respectively) receptors?

atropine; curare

Dopamine belongs to the __________ class of monoamines.

catecholamines

nicotinic receptors

cholinergic receptors that also respond to stimulation by nicotine -ligand gated ion channels (have alpha and beta subunits (tons of them)) so there are tons of unique combinations of neurotransmitter receptors An ionotropic acetycholine receptor that is stimulated by nicotine and blocked by curare

Administration of a drug that binds with a postsynaptic receptor, but does not open ion channels would be termed a(n)

direct antagonist

Monoamines

dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin Idolamines-Serotonin

The primary means by which the postsynaptic action of acetylcholine is terminated is via

enzymatic destruction by acetylcholinesterase

The axons of most sensory neurons release the neurotransmitter

glutamate

Which of the following is best described as the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and has an important impact on learning?

glutamate

After glutamate binds to the NMDA receptor, _____ must also bind to widen the ion channel.

glycine

An effective drug would have:

high affinity and acts at sites of action that produce therapeutic effects.

Drugs that inactivate monoamine oxidase would be expected to

increase dopamine levels within neurons

Administration of a drug that blocks acetylcholinesterase in the brain would be expected to

increase the amount of acetylcholine in the synapse

Injecting an animal with a dose of a chemical molecule that is a precursor for the synthesis of a synaptic neurotransmitter would be expected to

increase the rate of synthesis and release of that neurotransmitter

A drug that blocks a presynaptic autoreceptor

increases the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal.

Administration of a drug that binds at a postsynaptic site different from that of the neurotransmitter, and facilitates the opening of ion channels would be termed a(n)

indirect agonist

A drug that binds at a postsynaptic site different from that of the neurotransmitter and prevents the opening of ion channels would be termed a(n)

indirect antagonist

Alcohol has two major sites of action in the nervous system, acting as a(n) __________ at NMDA receptors and a(n) __________ at GABAA receptors.

indirect antagonist; indirect agonist

The most common route by which a drug is ingested into the body is oral administration, while one of the most rapid ways of getting the effects of a drug is ______.

inhilation

Which term below refers to sniffing a drug so as to absorb the drug through the nasal mucosa?

insufflation

The rate at which a drug reaches active sites in the brain is determined mostly by its degree of

lipid solubility

lock and key analogy

lock = receptor, key = neurotransmitter

The muscle weakness associated with myasthenia gravis reflects

loss of ACh receptors on skeletal muscles

GABA function

major inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS, meaning it blocks nerve impulses -opens K+ or Cl+ channels -2 receptors one open Cl+ and one opens K+ produces different behaviors

Nicotine receptors are found in ________ in the periphery and in ________ in the brain.

muscle fiber; axoaxonic synapses

Parkinson's disease involves the degeneration of neurons within the ________ DA system.

nigrostriatal

Damage to which dopaminergic (DA) system would be expected to produce muscle tremors, limb rigidity, and difficulty in movement control?

nirgrostriatal DA system

Medicines are most commonly given to humans via the ________ route.

oral

drugs enter the capillaries and blood through ____

passive diffusion down concentration gradients

Stimulation of a presynaptic autoreceptor

reduces the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal

A general mechanism by which postsynaptic potentials are terminated involves

reuptake of the neurotransmitter molecule into the axon through a membrane transporter

Two conditions associated with abnormal brain dopamine levels are

schizophrenia and parkinson's disease

A drug such as amphetamine, which causes the transporters for dopamine to run in reverse, would

spill dopamine into synaptic cleft

the time course of a drug's action allows a determine of ___

the intensity of the drug effect as a function of time

What term describes the desired or predicted physiological response of a drug?

therapeutic effect

The ________ is a measure of the safety of a drug.

therapeutic index

A need to increase a drug is

tolerance

Repeated administration of a constant drug dose typically produces ________, which is defined as a(n) ________ effect of the drug.

tolerance; reduced

Glutamate and GABA are removed from the cleft via:

transporters

carrier proteins

transporters; bind to NTs to transport them back to presynaptic neurons

Blockage of _____ would be expected to decrease the levels of transmitters within the vesicles.

vesicular transporters

Serotonin function

(5-HT)1. Regulation of mood appetite, sleep/arousal, regulation of pain, dreaming

Acetylcholine function

(Ach) 1. Neuromuscular junction 2. Parasympathetic Nervous System(uses nicotinic and Muscarinic receptors respectively)

Diseases and Drugs with Acetylcholine

(Ach) 1. Nicotine- activates nicotinic receptor 2. Botulism toxin- prevents Ach release 3. Myesthenia Gravis- disease that attacks and destroys nicotinic receptors on skeletal muscle 4. Black Widow spider venom- stimulates release of Ach

Diseases and Drugs with Dopamine

(DA) 1. Amphetamines (Meth) cause increase release of dopamine and norephinephrine 2. Cocaine and methylphenidate (Ritaline) block dopamine re-uptake 3. MAO's- "Monoamine oxidase" =enzyme that destroys dopamine, serotonin and norepinphrine in the synaptic cleft. (MAO- inhibitors are used as a treatment for depression) 4. Parkinson's disease- low dopamine because the neurons that make dopamine in the brain die.Treatment= L-Dopa5. Schizophrenia- overactive dopamine...hallucinations, delusions, disruption of normal logical thought.

Dopamine function

(DA) 1. Movement 2. Thought, attention, motivation, learning, pleasure, reward

Norephinephrine (and epinephrine) function

(NE) 1. Sympathetic nervous system (flight/fight response) 2. Sleep, wakefulness, attention

Diseases and Drugs with Norephinephrine and epinephrine

(NE) Selective norephinephrine reuptake inhibitor is used as medication for ADD/ADHD

Placebo Effect

-Expectation plays an important role in how we respond to drugs that affect the brain -Greater implications for psychotherapy than anything else b/c function primarily through psychological mechanisms

Which of the following is a compensatory mechanism that would result in drug tolerance?

-a reduced number of tissue drug receptors - a reduced # of tissue drug receptors over repeated treatments

Glycine function

-‐Inhibitory -‐Motor function in spinal cord, auditory function in brain stem

The four basic sites of drug action at a synapse?

1. Effects on Production of Neurotransmitters 2. Effects on Storage and Release of Neurotransmitters 3. Effects on Receptors 4. Effects on Re-uptake or Destruction of Neurotransmitters

3 steps of ionotropic receptor binding

1. NT molecules bind to protein sites in receptor channel 2. binding causes the channel to open immediately 3. when the channel opens, ions are able to move into or out of the neuron

Three important systems of dopaminergic neurons (circuits)

1. Nigrostriatal: A system of neurons originating in the substantia nigra and the terminating in the neostriatum (caudate nucleus and putamen of the basal ganglia); -appears to play role in the control of movement. -Parkinson occurs when issues begin at the putamen -Hunington's occurs when the issue begin at the caudate. -Degeneration of this connection is what causes Parkinson's disease. 2. Metabolic System: Systems of dopaminergic neurons originating in the ventral legmental area and terminating in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus. 3. Mesocortical System: A system of dopaminergic Neurons originating ventral tegmental area and terminating in the prefrontal cortex -Appears to influence formation of short term memories, planning and preparing strategies for problem solving. -Plays important role in learning and attention.

What are the 5 pharmacokinetic factors that determine drug actions?

1. Routes of administration - How and where the drug is administered 2. Absorption & distribution - transportation through the blood plasma (i.e., all cells within the body) 3. Binding - to active target sites (receptors), depot binding, or to be stored in bone or fat 4. Inactivation - biotransformation, or drug inactivation, metabolic processes in the liver 5. Excretion - liver metabolites eliminated through urine/feces, sometimes excreted unaltered through the kidney.

Agonist

A drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell. This would be like making a fake key that fits in the lock and opens the door.

Which of the following is true of the relation between drug affinity and drug effects?

A drug with a high affinity for a receptor will exert an effect at a low dose

Glutamate function

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory -4 receptors -3 opens Na+ channels -1 opens calcium channels All produce excitation (opens channels create depolarization)

3 structures are crucial for reinforcing drugs

Accumbens: Euphoric/pleasure component Amygdala: emotional component ( also key component for withdrawal symptoms) Hippocampus: Memory component All are responsible for reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse

________ refers to the capacity of a drug molecule to bind to a receptor.

Affinity

If a drug increases the neurotransmitter precursor it is considered a/an:

Agonist

Substances that block degradation of neurotransmitters are

Agonist

The major excitatory NT in the brain is a/an _____ called ____.

Amino Acid; glutamate

substantia nigra

An area of the midbrain that is involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons

A drug blocks vesicle transporters. The drug would be considered a/an:

Antagonist

A drug prevents neurotransmitter release by deactivating docking proteins. This drug would be considered a/an:

Antagonist

Hemicholnium-3 blocks the choline transporter, preventing recycling of choline. This drug is a/an:

Antagonist

activation of NMDA receptor allow sodium and ______ ions to flow into the nerve cell.

Calcium

One mechanism for the tolerance produced by repeated drug administration is a(n)

Decrease in the number of receptors for the drug

dose-response curve

Demonstrate the effect of a particular dose until the maximum effect is reached

Nicotine is a/an _____ because it mimics acetylcholine at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Direct Agonist

L-DOPA is given to a patient with Parkinson's Disease because

Dopamine cannot cross the blood brain barrier

Which of the following is true of dopamine receptors?

Dopamine receptors are metabotropic

What is the difference between drug action and drug effect?

Drug action: specific molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site or receptor. Drug Effect: Molecular changes leading to more widespread alterations in physiological or psychological function. e.g., Atropine applied directly to the eye to dilate the iris, vs morphine taken internally. Applying morphine directly to the eye doesnt have an effect compared to taken internally.

Which of the following is true of drug effects?

Drugs vary widely in their effectiveness.

Someone with epilepsy might be prescribed a medicine to increase __________ action.

GABA

PCP binds to an alternate binding site for the NMDA glutamate receptor, causing less neurotransmitter action. This binding action makes PCP a/an ___________.

Indirect Antagonist

subcutaneous (SC) injection

Injection into the fatty tissue between the skin and muscle; a medication delivery route.

Intramuscular (IM) injection

Injection of a substance into a muscle-ex: injection for the flu, in your triceps or butt shots-takes about 30mins to become effective-can be mixed with ephedrine, if mixed it works faster, increases speed of drug

Muscle contractions often need to happen quickly so they are controlled via _______.

Ionotropic

The primary route of excretion of drugs from thew body via which organs?

Kidneys

If an individual is suffering from liver disease, which of the following processes would you expect to be delayed?

Metabolism

When one of your neurons is trying to send a signal to a neighboring neuron, it does so by releasing tiny chemicals called ______that can communicate a "message" to that adjacent neuron.

Neurotransmitters

________ refers to the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behavior.

Psychopharmacology

What do placebos influence?

Selective and objective measures

________ refers to an increased behavioral effect of a drug with repeated administration.

Sensitization

Intraperitoneal (IP) injection

The injection of a substance into the peritoneal cavity, the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver & other abdominal organs-most common for animal research-takes about 30 mins for full effect of the drug-either go left or right of the midline

Sites of Action

The locations at which molecules of drugs interact with molecules located on or in cells of the body, thus affecting some biochemical process of these cells. -a drug can effect neuro communication at any time of these stagess

Where does the final synthesis step for norepineprine occur?

The vesicles

The level at which a drug will start having desired effects on the body is called the...

Toxic threshold