Drugs

• Drugs affect what?

  synaptic transmission
• 5 ways in which drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  • same shape
  • block receptors
  • inhibit enzyme
  • stimulate release
  • inhibit release
• State one of the 5 ways that drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  Some drugs are the SAME SHAPE AS NEUROTRANSMITTERS so they MIMIC their action at receptors (these drugs are AGONISTS

  )

  This means more receptors are ACTIVATED
• State one of the 5 ways that drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  Some drugs BLOCK RECEPTORS so they CAN'T BE ACTIVATED BY NEUROTRANSMITTERS (these drugs = antagonists)

  this means FEWER receptors / if any, can be activated

  can result in muscles being paralysed?
• State one of the 5 ways that drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  Some drugs INHIBIT THE ENZYME that breaks down neurotransmitters

  • this means there are MORE neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors and they are there for LONGER
  • Can lead to loss of muscle control?
• State one of the 5 ways that drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  Some drugs stimulate the release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neurone so more receptors are activated
• State one of the 5 ways that drugs can affect synaptic transmission?


  Some drugs INHIBIT the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neurone so FEWER receptors are activated