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G'Day all
Jim Bell <cd24 at dial.pipex.com> writes:
>I am looking for information on the ways drugs can affect
>neurotransmission at the synapse.
>Thanking you in advance.
> J Mckimmie c/o cd24 at dial.pipex.com
Now that is a BIG question:
Drugs can affect neurotransmission by acting at the following sites:
1) Receptors (mimicing or blocking the effets of natural hormones and
neurotransmitters. See Starke K (1977) Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 77: 1-124)
2) Ion channel blockade/ activation
3) Transporters or uptake sites (eg. blocking neurotransmitter uptake will
increase the duration of a nerve impulses action on a postjunctional cell body
4) Breakdown enzymes (eg acetylcholinesterase, blockade effects similar to 3)
5) Other (a grab bag of effects on intracellular signal transduction/effector
pathways, direct effects on signal transducing G-proteins etc.etc.etc.)
and of course there is the prejuctional/postjunctional aspect as well.
A good place to start is Kandel, Scwartz& Jessel "Principles of Neural
Science", third edition, Elseiver Press and Siegel et al, Basic
Neurochemistry: molecular, cellular and medical aspects. fourth edition,
1989, Raven Press.
Cheers! Ian
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ian Musgrave PhD. Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
Mail: PO Box 5152 Clayton, Vic 3168, Australia. FAX: +61 3 550 6125
E-mail: Ian.Musgrave at med.monash.edu.au Phone: +61 3 550 4286
