Neuropharmacology: Drug Interactions and Nervous System

Neuropharmacology

• Study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system
• Focuses on the interactions between drugs and neurotransmitters, receptors, and neural pathways
• Examines the mechanisms of action of drugs on the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system
• Key areas of study:
  • Neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate
  • Receptors: G-protein coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels
  • Neurological disorders: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety

Immunopharmacology

• Study of the effects of drugs on the immune system
• Focuses on the interactions between drugs and immune cells, cytokines, and immune responses
• Examines the mechanisms of action of drugs on the immune system, including immunosuppression and immunostimulation
• Key areas of study:
  • Immune cells: T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells
  • Cytokines: interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factor
  • Immune-related disorders: autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection

Toxicology

• Study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms
• Focuses on the detection, prevention, and treatment of poisoning
• Examines the mechanisms of toxicity, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
• Key areas of study:
  • Toxic agents: chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, drugs of abuse
  • Toxicity testing: in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies
  • Toxic effects: acute, chronic, and delayed effects on organs and systems

Pharmacogenomics

• Study of the genetic factors that influence an individual's response to drugs
• Focuses on the relationship between genetic variation and drug efficacy, safety, and toxicity
• Examines the genetic differences in drug metabolism, transport, and target receptors
• Key areas of study:
  • Genetic variations: single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), copy number variations
  • Pharmacogenetic testing: genotyping, gene expression analysis
  • Personalized medicine: tailoring drug therapy to an individual's genetic profile

Neuropharmacology

• Effects of drugs on the nervous system
• Interactions between drugs and neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate)
• Interactions between drugs and receptors (e.g. G-protein coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels)
• Effects of drugs on brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system
• Study of neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety)

Immunopharmacology

• Effects of drugs on the immune system
• Interactions between drugs and immune cells (e.g. T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells)
• Interactions between drugs and cytokines (e.g. interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factor)
• Effects of drugs on immune responses, including immunosuppression and immunostimulation
• Study of immune-related disorders (e.g. autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection)

Toxicology

• Adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms
• Detection, prevention, and treatment of poisoning
• Mechanisms of toxicity, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
• Study of toxic agents (e.g. chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, drugs of abuse)
• Toxicity testing methods (e.g. in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies)
• Acute, chronic, and delayed effects of toxic agents on organs and systems

Pharmacogenomics

• Genetic factors that influence individual response to drugs
• Relationship between genetic variation and drug efficacy, safety, and toxicity
• Genetic differences in drug metabolism, transport, and target receptors
• Study of genetic variations (e.g. single nucleotide polymorphisms, copy number variations)
• Pharmacogenetic testing methods (e.g. genotyping, gene expression analysis)
• Personalized medicine: tailoring drug therapy to individual genetic profile