Pharm unit 4 l1

CNS Drugs and Their Uses

• CNS drugs are utilized for treating various psychological and neurological conditions.

Neurons in the Human Brain

• The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons.

Drug Development Timeframe

• Many drugs require weeks or months to demonstrate noticeable effects, indicating a lengthy therapeutic onset.

Interconnected Neurotransmitter Systems

• Neurotransmitter systems exhibit interconnections, allowing for complex communication networks within the brain.

Dopamine Receptor Antagonists and Schizophrenia

• Antagonists of dopamine receptors are used in managing schizophrenia, helping to alleviate symptoms by blocking excessive dopamine activity.

Synaptic Connections in the Human Brain

• The human brain has approximately 100 trillion synaptic connections, facilitating communication between neurons.

Drug Abuse and Neurotransmitters

• Drugs of abuse impact neurotransmitters, particularly GABA and glutamate, disrupting normal signaling and potentially leading to addiction.

Presynaptically Located Neurotransmitter Receptors

• Some neurotransmitter receptors located presynaptically modulate neurotransmitter release, influencing synaptic strength and communication.

Transport of Neurotransmitters

• The neurotransmitter dopamine is packaged into vesicles by a specific amine transporter for effective signaling.

Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Target

• The primary target for Alzheimer's disease treatment focuses on acetylcholine pathways, aiming to enhance cholinergic function.

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptors

• AMPA and NMDA receptors function as ligand-gated ion channel receptors, crucial for fast excitatory synaptic transmission.

Cells Important for Learning and Memory

• Cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain project to the hippocampus, playing a significant role in learning and memory processes.

Neuron Loss in Alzheimer's Disease

• The loss of cholinergic neurons, notably in the basal forebrain, is primarily associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Cholinergic Interneurons and Parkinson's Disease

• Cholinergic interneurons in the striatum are essential for regulating movement and can contribute to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Characteristic Features of Alzheimer's Disease

• Alzheimer's disease is characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and behavioral changes, often leading to impaired daily functioning.

Positive Allosteric Modulator of Nicotinic Receptors

• Certain drugs act as positive allosteric modulators at nicotinic receptors, enhancing receptor function and potentially benefiting cognitive performance.

Brain Cells Important for Arousal

• Noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus project to the cortex, contributing to the regulation of arousal and attention.

G-Protein Coupled Receptors

• Metabotropic glutamate receptors function as G-protein coupled receptors, involved in slow excitatory or inhibitory synaptic transmission.

Neuron Loss in Parkinson's Disease

• The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is closely associated with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

• Donepezil, a drug used to manage Alzheimer's disease, works by inhibiting the enzymatic degradation of acetylcholine, thereby increasing its availability at synapses.