Pharmacology Lecture 4: Cholinergic Agonists
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary therapeutic use of pilocarpine?

  • Lowering of intraocular pressure in glaucoma (correct)
  • Management of hypertension
  • Treatment of xerostomia
  • Reversing mydriasis induced by phenylephrine
  • Which adverse effect is commonly associated with pilocarpine?

  • Constipation
  • Blurred vision
  • Profuse sweating (correct)
  • Increased heart rate
  • How does pilocarpine benefit patients with sjögren’s syndrome?

  • It inhibits acetylcholine activity
  • It induces mydriasis
  • It promotes salivation (correct)
  • It reduces systemic penetration
  • What action does pilocarpine produce when administered?

    <p>Miosis and contraction of ciliary muscle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is administered to counteract the toxicity of pilocarpine?

    <p>Parenteral atropine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of drug is pilocarpine classified as?

    <p>Muscarinic agonist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following effects is NOT associated with pilocarpine?

    <p>Dry mouth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of sjögren’s syndrome that pilocarpine helps alleviate?

    <p>Lack of tears</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following structures does not use acetylcholine (ACh) as a neurotransmitter?

    <p>Postganglionic fibers of the sympathetic division</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in the neurotransmission process at cholinergic neurons?

    <p>Synthesis of ACh</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of acetylcholine?

    <p>Choline acetyltransferase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event occurs immediately after the binding of ACh to its receptor?

    <p>Calcium influx into the neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following steps is associated with the recycling of neurotransmitter components?

    <p>Recycling of choline and acetate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which part of the nervous system is ACh primarily utilized?

    <p>Centrally within the CNS</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process directly follows the degradation of ACh in the synaptic cleft?

    <p>Recycling of choline and acetate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a function of acetylcholine in the body?

    <p>Facilitating muscle contraction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true regarding muscarinic receptors?

    <p>They bind acetylcholine and have five subclasses: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary action of Gq protein when activated?

    <p>It activates phospholipase C.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when M1 or M3 receptors are activated?

    <p>They activate a G protein designated as Gq.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the effects of Gi proteins in signal transduction?

    <p>They inhibit certain signaling cascades in the cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of receptors are M2 receptors primarily found on?

    <p>Cardiac cells and smooth muscle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate hydrolysis?

    <p>It produces diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes the effect of muscarinic drugs at high concentrations?

    <p>They may also show some activity at nicotinic receptors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do M3 receptors play in the body?

    <p>They are found on exocrine glands and the bladder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of ganglionic receptors in relation to pharmacological agents?

    <p>They are selectively blocked by hexamethonium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following drugs is classified as a direct-acting cholinergic agonist?

    <p>Pilocarpine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant feature of direct-acting cholinergic drugs?

    <p>They have longer durations of action than acetylcholine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is used to describe the class of drugs that mimics the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system?

    <p>Parasympathomimetics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which receptor type do carbachol and bethanechol preferentially bind to?

    <p>Muscarinic receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What limits the clinical usefulness of direct-acting cholinergic agonists?

    <p>Their lack of receptor specificity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is incorrectly paired with its pharmacological action?

    <p>Pilocarpine - selective nicotinic receptor agonist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of cholinergic pharmacology, what is true about the actions of acetylcholine?

    <p>It causes depolarization of effector cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for developing anticholinesterases for Alzheimer's disease?

    <p>To counteract the deficiency of cholinergic neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following drugs can reactivate inhibited acetylcholinesterase?

    <p>Pralidoxime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the administration of atropine have in the context of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?

    <p>Prevents muscarinic side effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What class of compounds has the capacity to bind covalently to acetylcholinesterase?

    <p>Synthetic organophosphates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of medications are donepezil and rivastigmine classified as?

    <p>Anticholinesterases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which effect is NOT a muscarinic side effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?

    <p>Elevated blood pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cholinergic agonists is particularly known for their toxicity and military use?

    <p>Synthetic organophosphates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a supportive measure for managing toxicity from acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?

    <p>Maintaining a patent airway</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Cholinergic Neurons

    • Acetylcholine (ACh) functions as a neurotransmitter in various systems:
      • Preganglionic fibers in adrenal medulla
      • Autonomic ganglia (both divisions)
      • Postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous system
      • Postganglionic sympathetic division in sweat glands
      • Somatic muscles and central nervous system (CNS)

    Neurotransmission Process

    • Cholinergic neurotransmission occurs through six key steps:
      • Synthesis
      • Storage
      • Release
      • Binding to receptors
      • Degradation in the synaptic cleft
      • Recycling of choline and acetate

    Cholinergic Receptors

    • Muscarinic receptors bind ACh and are recognized by muscarine, a toxin from certain mushrooms.
    • There are five subclasses of muscarinic receptors (M1–M5), each with distinct locations and functions:
      • M1: Gastric parietal cells
      • M2: Cardiac cells and smooth muscle
      • M3: Bladder, exocrine glands, and smooth muscle
    • Muscarinic agents can transform into nicotinic action at high concentrations.

    G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

    • GPCRs categorized as Gq, Gi, or Gs:
      • Gq and Gs are stimulatory, while Gi is inhibitory.
      • Gq activates the phospholipase C (PLC) pathway; Gs activates the cAMP pathway leading to protein kinase C (PKC); Gi inhibits several signaling pathways.

    Signal Transduction Mechanisms

    • Muscarinic receptor activation leads to conformational changes, interfacing with Gq proteins and activating phospholipase C, producing diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate.
    • Sodium ion entry can depolarize effector cells; ganglionic receptors can be blocked by hexamethonium, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) receptors blocked by tubocurarine.

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists

    • Known as parasympathomimetics, primary drugs include choline esters (carbachol, bethanechol) and alkaloids (pilocarpine).
    • These drugs display longer action durations than ACh and preferentially bind to muscarinic receptors. Clinical effectiveness is limited due to low specificity.

    Pilocarpine

    • A muscarinic agonist used primarily in ophthalmology to treat glaucoma by inducing rapid miosis and lowering intraocular pressure.
    • Also promotes salivation in xerostomia and Sjögren's syndrome, countering dry mouth and lack of tears.
    • Adverse effects include profuse sweating and salivation; serious toxicity can be treated with parenteral atropine.

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists

    • Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors include tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine for Alzheimer’s disease, addressing deficits in cholinergic neurons.

    Irreversible Anticholinesterases

    • Synthetic organophosphate compounds bind covalently to acetylcholinesterase (AChE), resulting in prolonged ACh presence.
    • Many are highly toxic and serve as nerve agents or insecticides.

    Toxicology of AChE Inhibitors

    • Pralidoxime can reactivate AChE but does not penetrate the CNS.
    • Atropine is administered to alleviate muscarinic side effects, such as bronchial secretion increase and bradycardia.
    • Diazepam may be used to mitigate convulsions; supportive care for airway maintenance, oxygen, and artificial respiration could be necessary.

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    Description

    This quiz covers key concepts from Lecture 4 on Cholinergic Agonists in pharmacology. Focus on the role of ACh as a neurotransmitter and its effects in various neural pathways. Test your understanding of the autonomic nervous system and pharmacological applications.

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