Define pharmacology?

the science of how drugs affect the body

Define psychopharmacology?

study of how drugs specifically affect the brain and behavior

Psychopharmacologist

studies of how drugs specifically affect the brain and behavior

Behavioral Pharmacologist

studies the effects on a specific field of behavior with a drug

Neuropsychopharmacologist

studies the effects of a drug in a specific part of the brain

Your textbook defines a drug as a “chemical substance used for its effects on bodily processes.”  What are some challenges with this definition?

Could be anything (ex food)

Instrumental

Addressing a specific purpose

Recreational

To experience the drug effects

Trade name

Name developed for marketing drug

Generic name

Descriptive name (chemical structure or drug class)

Street Name

Name developed from those who use, sell, or make recreational drugs

Dose

A ratio of the amount of drug per an organism's body weight

ED50

Dose of a drug that produces the desired effect in 50 percent of the subjects

LD50 (or TD50)

The lethal dose for 50 percent of the subjects

Potency

Refers to the absolute number of molecules of drug required to elicit a response, a measurement of the dose required

Therapeutic Index

The ratio of the LD50 to the ED50 is used as an index of the relative safety of the drug

Pharmacodynamics

Drugs action [in body, biological]

Pharmacokinetics

Movement of the drugs in the body

Pharmacogenetics

Understanding the role a drug could play in a genetic stand point

Objective Effects

publically observable

Subjective Effects

Private events

External Validity

How well will your findings generalize (can extend to humans?)

Face Validity

How well your model resembles what you are trying to study

Construct Validity

How good is the model compared to what the diease is like

Predictive Validity

How well it will extend to others

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

3Rs

Replacement, Reduction, Refinement

Informed Consent

Approved shared knowledge to participate in study

IRB

Institutional Review Board

Steps in therapeutic drug development

-Develop strategy

-Make drugs

-Initial screening

-Further screening

-Safety Pharmacology

-Clinical Trials

            -1,2,3,4

Neurons

Electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling

Glia Cells

Supports neuron function

Astrocyte

Facilitate BBB formation

-Respond to injury (gliosis)

-Terminate neurotransmission

Medulla

Controls basic autonomic processes (inhibited by depressant drugs)

Hypothalamus

collection of neurons in the lower portion of the brain near the junction of the midbrain and the thalamus

Controls entire autonomic system, closely controls the hormonal output of the pituitary gland

 An active cerebral cortex improves learning and memory.  What system or other factors may improve cortical arousal?

Reticular activating system, glucose and oxygen

What is cerebral blood flow?  How does blood flow respond to changes in brain activity?

Blood flow throughout the brain [activity dependent]

Ischemia

diminished blood flow

Hyperemia

Too much blood flow

What are the two important functions for cerebral spinal fluid?

Supplies cells with nutrients and other chemicals

Cushions brain

Where is cerebrospinal fluid found in the central nervous system?

Found around cells, ventricles, cerebral aqueduct, central cannel, meninges

What is the blood-brain barrier?  How do molecules pass through the blood-brain barrier?

Prevents blood from accessing neurons, in order to pass molecules must be small, lipid soluble, uncharged, active transport

How many chromosomes do humans have?

46, 23 from each parent

What is a polymorphism?

Encodes for a trait, but does so differently than most in population

What is a transcription factor?

Increases or decreases gene transcription

What is a phenotype?

The physiological and/or behavioral changes caused by a genetic alteration

What are the two most common amino acid neurotransmitters?

Glutamate and GABA

List the synthesis steps for the catecholamines.

Phenylalanine->Tyrosine->DOPA->Dopamine->Norepinephine->Epinephrine

Where are cell bodies for acetylcholine neurons (i.e., cholinergic neurons) found?

Basal forebrain

What are the unique properties of the neurotransmitter nitric oxide

It’s a gas, dilates blood vessals, no synaptic storage, diffuses through membrane

What is “bioavailabilty?”

How much of the drug that is administered actually reaches its target

Binding Affinity

a drugs strength of binding to a receptor