autonomic pharmacology intro

Question 1

What are the types of muscarinic receptors?

Answer 1

M1, M2, M3, M4, M5

Question 2

What are the types of nicotinic receptors?

Answer 2

Nn, Nm

Question 3

What does CNS stand for?

Answer 3

Central Nervous System

Question 4

What does PNS stand for?

Answer 4

Peripheral Nervous System

Question 5

What is the main function of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS)?

Answer 5

Rest and digest

Question 6

What is the main function of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)?

Answer 6

Fight or flight

Question 7

Which systems mediate opposing responses in effector organs?

Answer 7

PSNS and SNS

(with some exceptions!!)

Question 8

Where does the PSNS begin?

Answer 8

Cranial and sacral spinal cord

Question 9

Where does the SNS begin?

Answer 9

Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord

Question 10

What type of neurons are involved in the 2-neuron system of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 10

Pre- and postganglionic fibers

Question 11

What neurotransmitter do cholinergic neurons release?

Answer 11

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 12

What neurotransmitter is most commonly released by postganglionic SNS neurons?

Answer 12

Norepinephrine (NE)

Question 13

What is the effect of epinephrine (EP) secreted by the adrenal gland?

Answer 13

Acts as adrenaline

Question 14

What are the two main types of autonomic receptors?

Answer 14

• Adrenergic
• Cholinergic

Question 15

What is the primary action of alpha receptors (α1)?

Answer 15

Contraction

Question 16

What is the primary action of beta receptors (β1, β2, β3)?

Answer 16

Relaxation

Question 17

What is the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)?

Answer 17

Degrades acetylcholine

Question 18

Fill in the blank: The PSNS and SNS are generally considered _______ in their physiological effects.

Answer 18

Antagonists

Question 19

True or False: Most tissues have both PSNS and SNS innervation.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

What are adrenergic neurons characterized by?

Answer 20

Release of norepinephrine

Question 21

What is the primary function of nicotinic receptors?

Answer 21

Excitation

Question 22

What enzyme synthesizes acetylcholine?

Answer 22

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)

Question 23

What is the effect of M2 receptors on the heart?

Answer 23

Decreases heart rate

Question 24

What neurotransmitter is primarily involved in adrenergic transmission?

Answer 24

Norepinephrine

Question 25

What is the main action of β1 receptors?

Answer 25

Increases heart rate and force of contraction

Question 26

What does the term 'physiological antagonists' refer to in the context of the PSNS and SNS?

Answer 26

Opposing effects on effector organs

Question 27

What is the primary action of β2 receptors?

Answer 27

Smooth muscle relaxation | (including vasodialation)

Question 28

What is the result of activation of α1 receptors?

Answer 28

Vasoconstriction and constriction of sphincters

Question 29

What are the two main types of cholinergic receptors?

Answer 29

* Muscarinic * Nicotinic

Question 30

What is the termination mechanism for norepinephrine?

Answer 30

1. Re-uptake 2. Diffusion away from synapse 2. Metabolism via MAO and COMT

Question 31

Fill in the blank: The adrenal medulla secretes ____ into the bloodstream.

Answer 31

Epinephrine

Question 32

What are the three steps in the synthesis of norepinephrine?

Answer 32

1. Tyrosine hydroxylase 2. Dopa decarboxylase 3. Dopamine β-hydroxylase

Question 33

What receptors are activated by norepinephrine and epinephrine?

Answer 33

Adrenergic receptors

Question 34

What is the action of α2 receptors?

Answer 34

Inhibits norepinephrine release

Question 35

What type of receptors are found on postganglionic neurons?

Answer 35

Nicotinic receptors

Question 36

True or False: Muscarinic agonists can stimulate similar physiological responses as AChE inhibitors.

Answer 36

True

Question 37

The nervous system is made up of the ____ and the ____.

Answer 37

CNS, PNS

Question 38

The CNS can be divided into the ____ and the ____.

Answer 38

brain, spinal cord

Question 39

The PNS can be divided into the ____ and the ____.

Answer 39

efferent, afferent

Question 40

The efferent nervous system can be divided into the ____ and the ____.

Answer 40

autonomic, somatic

Question 41

the autonomic nervous system can be divided into the ____, ____, and ____.

Answer 41

PSNS, SNS, enteric

Question 42

What are the key characteristics of SNS signal transmission? | (in terms of anatomy)

Answer 42

- ganglia near spinal cord (i.e. short pre-galgionic and long post-ganglionic) - one preganglionic to many post-ganglionic fibers

Question 43

What are the key characteristics of PSNS signal transmission? | (in terms of anatomy)

Answer 43

- ganglia close to/within target tissue (i.e. long pre-galgionic and short post-ganglionic) - one preganglionic to one post-ganglionic fiber

Question 44

Why do the blood vessels vary from the norm in terms of message transduction in the SNS/PSNS?

Answer 44

- **There is no PSNS in blood vessels.** - They only respond to NE release by symapthetic nerve fibers! - Vasoconstriction and vasodilation are entirely controlled by the SNS.

Question 45

Why does the adrenal medula vary from the norm in terms of message transduction in the SNS/PSNS?

Answer 45

- **SNS communication invloves no post-ganglionic neuron!!** - Pre-ganglionic neuron directly stimulates the adrenal medulla by releasing ACh. - The adrenal medulla then releases epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) into the bloodstream, acting as hormones.

Question 46

Why do the sweat glands vary from the norm in terms of message transduction in the SNS/PSNS?

Answer 46

- **SNS post-ganglionic neurons release ACh (instead of NE) onto muscarinic (M) receptors.** - This is unique because most SNS post-ganglionic neurons release NE, but sweat glands are an exception.

Question 48

Where are Nn found?

Answer 48

in all ganglia (PSNS and SNS)

Question 49

Where are Nm found?

Answer 49

skeletal muscle (somatic nervous system)

Question 50

M2 and M3 are found... | (common characteristic)

Answer 50

on organ innervated by the PSNS

Question 51

M1 can be found... | (common characteristic)

Answer 51

some ganglia

Question 52

endothelial cells contain ____ receptors.

Answer 52

M3 and M5

Question 53

acetylcholine (ACh) activates...

Answer 53

muscarinic receptors | (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5)

Question 54

Which M receptors are stimulatory? Why?

Answer 54

- M1, M2, and M3 - they increase IP3 and DAG levels *(G-protein gets activated, which activates phospholipase -- it cleaves PIP2, which then activates DAG. DAG activates PKC, which then activates IP3)*

Question 55

Which alpha (a) receptors are stimulatory? Why?

Answer 55

- a1 - it increases IP3 and DAG levels *(G-protein gets activated, which activates phospholipase -- it cleaves PIP2, which then activates DAG. DAG activates PKC, which then activates IP3)*

Question 56

Which N receptors are stimulatory?

Answer 56

all of them!

Question 57

Which N receptors are inhibitory?

Answer 57

none of them!

Question 58

Which M receptors are inhibitory? Why?

Answer 58

- M2 and M4 - they decrease cAMP levels *(G-protein is activated, which inhibits adenylyl cyclase, then enzyme responsible for converting ATP into cAMP)*

Question 59

Which beta (b) receptors are inhibitory? Why?

Answer 59

none of them!

Question 60

Which alpha (a) receptors are inhibitory? Why?

Answer 60

- a2 - it decreases cAMP levels *(G-protein is activated, which inhibits adenylyl cyclase, then enzyme responsible for converting ATP into cAMP)*

Question 61

Which beta (b) receptors are stimulatory? Why?

Answer 61

- b1, b2, b3 - they increase cAMP levels *(G-protein is activated, which activates adenylyl cyclase, then enzyme responsible for converting ATP into cAMP)*

Question 62

muscarinic receptors are... | (structure-wise, what are they?)

Answer 62

G protein-coupled receptors

Question 63

nicotinic receptors are... | (structure-wise, what are they?)

Answer 63

ion channels