Question

1. Discuss the reason most neuropharmacologic agents act by altering synaptic transmission instead of altering axonal conduction.
2. Describe the general steps involved in neurotransmission (synaptic transmission) and axonal conduction. State the elements or processes that need to occur, regardless of the site in the nervous system, for synaptic transmission to work.
3. Discuss specific ways in which drugs can alter the steps of synaptic transmission.
4. Discuss the relationship between multiple receptor types and selective drug action.

Answer 1

1.Drugs that target synaptic transmission can produce more selective effects.

2Step 1

Transmitter synthesis

Step2

Transmitter stored

Step 3

Transmitter release by action potential at the axon terminal and vesicals fuse with terminal membrane, causing release of contents into synaptic gap.

Strp 4

Receptors binding

Step 5

Termination of transmission transmitter from its receptors, followed by removal of free transmitter from synaptic gap. It can be removed by reuptake-pumps, enzyme degradation-large quantities of enzyme or diffusion.

3.Drugs can increase transmitter synthesis, decrease it, or cause synthesis of transmitter molecules that are more effective than the natural transmitter. Drugs that interfere with transmitter storage will cause receptors activation to decrease. Drugs can either promote or inhibit transmitter release. Amphetamines promote transmitter release and botulinum toxins inhibits transmitter release. Drugs can bind to receptors and cause activate, bind you receptors and block receptor activation, or bind to block receptor activation, or nind yo receptor components and enhance receptor activation by natural neurotransmitter. Benzodiazepine engance neurotransmitter action. Drugs can block transmitter reuptake and inhibit transmitter degradation.

4.Dtugs are able to act on one receptor type, allowing for dpecificity and less side effects.