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10 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Importance of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) in CNS pharmacology
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The BBB is a system of tight junctions between the endothelial cells and surrounding astrocytes of the capillaries. This barrier creates a challenge in medicine as it can prevent many therapeutic drugs from reaching the brain
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How does the BBB help detect tumours
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The BBB breaks down in areas of infection or injury. Tumours develop new blood vessels, and the capillaries that are formed lack contact with normal astrocytes. Therefore, the lack of a barrier helps identify the location of tumours.
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tetrodotoxin (TTx) and treatment
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TTx blocks most neuronal Na+ channel types, due to it's very high affinity. It does this by physically blocking the movement of sodium ions into neurons.
Early airway management is the best treatment for TTx |
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Botulinum toxin
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blocks ACh release by interfering with the synaptic fusion complex, thus paralysing the associated muscle fibres.
Although it does not cross the BBB |
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atropine sulfate
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antagonist at ACh receptors, which prevents ACh from binding to its receptors, allowing the syntheses of new acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Used when AChR are receiving too much stimulation
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Acetylcholinerase inhibitors (AChE-I)
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In Alzheimer's, ACh levels are low in the brain. AChE=I block the action of AChE and thereby increasing the amount of ACh that remains in the synaptic cleft
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Glial cells
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provide physical support, nutrition and protection for neurons. In the brain there is a 10:1 mix of glial and neuronal cells
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Different types of glial cells
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Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. Both have the same function of insulating one neuron from another with myelin except Oligodendrocytes surround brain neurons while Schwann cells exist outside the brain
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Astrocytes
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Assist in neuronal maintenance by 1. receiving glucose from capillaries 2. Breaking glucose down into lactate 3. Releasing the lactate into the EC fluid surrounding the neurons. So that the neurons can transport lactate to their mitochondria, and use it for energy. Also contain ion channels (Na+, K+ and Cl-), but do not conduct AP
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Microglia
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Smallest glial cells that helps 'keeps things clean'. Some act as phagocytes cleaning up debris, while most serve as representatives of the immune system in the brain, protecting it from invading microorganisms
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