Drugs acting on

the
Central Nervous System
Dr.DP
Med 4

Central Neurotransmitters
GABA
- inhibitory neurotransmitter
Receptors: GABA A
GABA B
Glycine:
- inhibitory
Local interneurons in the spinal cord & brain
stem

Glutamate: excitatory neurotransmitter

KA (kainate):
hippocampus, cerebellum, spinal cord
mediate fast depolarization
AMPA (-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4isoxazole propionic acid )
mediate fast depolarization
NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)
-Long term potentiation

Aspartate: excitatory
Acetylcholine:
Spinal cord Renshaw cells
neurons in the neostriatum, medial septal
nucleus, reticular formation
M1, M2 and Nm
Dopamine:
Substantia nigra neostriatum
Ventral tegmental region limbic cortex
D1 D5

Norepinephrine: hypothalamus , limbic system

enhances excitatory inputs by both indirect and
direct mechanisms
Attention and arousal
1, and 2
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT) :neurons in the raphe
or midline regions of the pons and upper brain
stem
5HT1
5HT2
5HT3 : ionotropic
5HT4

Histamine :ventral posterior hypothalamus

regulate arousal, body temperature, and
vascular dynamics
H 1 H2 H 3
Peptides: enkephalins, endorphins,
neurotensin, substance P
Diffusible Mediators
NO
Arachidonic acid

ACTIONS OF DRUGS IN THE CNS

CNS Stimulants
CNS Depressants
Drugs that selectively modify CNS function