Thurs Sept 23

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Thurs Sept 23 Extra credit assignment due
Today! Exam 1 is Tuesday Remember Make-ups are
granted only to those with documented excuses and
all make-ups are completely essay.
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• III. How drugs work
• alter synthesis of neurotransmitter (nt)
• alter transport of nt to axon terminal
• alter storage of nt
• alter release of nt
• mimic neurotransmitter and activate or block the
  receptor
• alter breakdown or reuptake of nt

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• IV. Major neurotransmitters, related diseases and
  drugs
• A. Acetylcholine
• inhibitory action in the parasympathetic nervous
  system(slows heart)
• excitatory in sympathetic nervous system (speeds
  heart)

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• excitatory at the neuromuscular junction -
  stimulates muscles
• in brain, both inhibitory and excitatory actions
• large amounts in basal ganglia,
  hippocampus/limbic system, frontal cortex

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• Relevant diseases
• Alzheimers Disease - impaired memory
  functioning, confusion
• certain muscular disorders
• Relevant drugs
• nicotine (cigarettes) - mimics Acetylcholine at
  nicotinic receptor sites
• curare - blocks nicotinic receptors and prevents
  action of acetylcholine drug for muscle
  relaxation
• Used on tip of arrow to deaden the prey - causes
  muscle paralysis. Too much - causes death.

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• B. GABA
• major inhibitory neurotransmitter - keeps
  cortical excitation under control helps
  relaxation of mind and body
• found in basal ganglia, brainstem, and
  throughout cortex

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• GABA Relevant illnesses
• epilepsy - uncontrolled neural activity that
  causes seizures
• anxiety - nervousness agitation
• Relevant drugs
• Alcohol self-medication of anxiety
• Valium Librium Xanax - antianxiety drugs
• Date rape drugs
• Anticonvulsants - treat seizure disorders due to
  uncontrolled excitation of neurons

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Dose-Response Relationship for the Acute
Behavioral Effects Blood alcohol level weight
of alcohol in 100 ml of blood Estimates for a 150
lb person drinking on an empty stomach (rate not
given) 0.04 beginning to feel the
effects (overly friendly mild
euphoria mild effects on motor
coordination 0.08 Legally
intoxicated 0.25 a staggering
drunk 0.35 passed out at level of
surgical anesthesia 0.4- 0.5 lethal level for
non-regular drinker Therapeutic Index 0.5/0.05
10 Not a good margin of safety.
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• C. Norepinephrine
• excitatory neurotransmitter
• made in brainstem and sent throughout brain
• important role in arousal
• in sympathetic nervous system - stimulates heart
  and lungs

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• Relevant illnesses
• Depression - not enough NE in some cases
• Mania - too much NE in some cases
• Relevant drugs
• many antidepressants (especially older ones)
• Lithium - used to treat mania
• stimulants - amphetamine cocaine
• Stimulate release and block reuptake of
  norepinephrine (also dopamine)

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D. Dopamine - 3 main tracts/roles 1.
Hypothalamus to pituitary - important in hormonal
control 2. Midbrain to basal ganglia -
important in control of movement 3. Midbrain to
limbic system and frontal cortex - pleasure
reward emotion attention activity thought
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• Dopamine
• Relevant illnesses
• Substance abuse disorders - reward center also
  an addiction center
• Parkinsons disease - movement related disorder
  - not enough DA
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders - not
  enough in prefrontal brain in some cases
• Schizophrenia - a mental disorder involving
  disturbances in thought overactive Dopamine
  system in some cases

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• Relevant drugs
• L-dopa - used to treat Parkinsons
• Amphetamine and cocaine - stimulant drugs
  (possibly any addictive drug)
  Methamphetamine - speed meth chalk crank
• Inhaled form - ice crystal glass
• Cocaine - coke blow toot snow
• Inhaled form - crack base rock
• Ritalin and Amphetamine - used to treat
  attention deficit disorders
• Thorazine, Haldol, Clozapine, Risperdal - drugs
  used to treat schizophrenia - reduce DA activity

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• E. Serotonin
• in most areas, inhibitory one path is
  excitatory
• located in Reticular Activating System of
  brainstem - important in sleep (high levels
  induce sleep)
• also located in thalamic, limbic, and cortical
  areas

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• Serotonin plays an important role in
• sleep/wakefulness cycle
• mood and emotion
• perception
• body temperature regulation
• hunger

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• Serotonin
• Relevant illnesses
• Sleep disorders
• Depression - not enough serotonin in the cortical
  excitatory circuit
• Relevant drugs
• Newer Antidepressants
• hallucinogens
• euphorics (induce sense of well-being)

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• Serotonergic Antidepressants
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Prozac Zoloft Celexa
• Effexor Luvox Paxil Anafranil
• ( also used for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  and Panic Disorder)
• Other SE actions that enhance serotonin
• Serzone Remeron
• hallucinogens - LSD psilocybin mushroom
• euphorics - Ecstasy/MDMA

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F. Glutamate - excitatory actions throughout
cortex, basal ganglia - arousal attention -
important in learning and memory - mediates
excitotoxicity that can cause cell death
(following injury disease) - involved in some
aspects of repair
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Glutamate Relevant illnesses Epilepsy Consequen
ces of head trauma Schizophrenia Relevant
drugs For Epilepsy mostly under
development For Schizophrenia - under
development For generalized head trauma - under
development
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• G. Opiate Peptides - endorphins enkephalins
• the brains natural painkillers (endogenous
  morphine endorphin)
• located in brainstem, midbrain and limbic areas
• involved in pain and pleasure
• released during physical stress
• Runners High

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Endorphins Relevant diseases ???? substance
abuse disorders Appear to play some role in
healing process (across diseases) Relevant drugs
opium morphine codeine heroin Oxycontin
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• H. Endocannabinoids
• endogenous substances similar to active
  chemicals in marijuana (Cannabis)
• found in cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum
• roles in recovery from stress
• Relax Eat Sleep Forget Protect

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• H. Endocannabinoids
• Relevant diseases ??????
• Relevant drugs
• Marijuana - drug of use/abuse and drug with
  medical value
• Marinol - prescription THC used as antiemetic
  for cancer and AIDs patients