PHA 6840
Assignment #7

1. Bath salts are a form of synthetic cathinones, with the most common ingredient being methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). Other stimulants that may be present in bath salts include: mephedrone and pyrovalerone. Synthetic cathinones are grouped together as β-ketone amphetamine compounds, a derivative of cathinone, which is an alkaloid made from leaves of the Catha edulis plant. These synthetic cathinones were originally manufactured legally to mimic the effects of other stimulants including: cocaine, methamphetamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). These designer drugs produce sympathomimetic effects similar to amphetamines by increasing the synaptic concentration of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin …show more content…
The components of the cholinergic nerve transmission include: pre-synaptic neuron, postsynaptic neuron, and space between two neurons called the synaptic cleft. The first part of cholinergic nerve transmission involves the choline molecule entering the presynaptic neuron through sodium dependent channels and energy. Choline interacts with acetyl CoA to create acetylcholine by way of enzyme choline acetyltransferase. The next step involves storing the acetylcholine into pre synaptic vesicles to prevent degradation. An action potential is generated which causes voltage gated calcium channels to open which allow entry of calcium into the axon. This results in fusion of vesicle with pre-synaptic membrane and release of neurotransmitter acetylcholine into synaptic cleft. Acetylcholine receptors located on the postsynaptic membrane bind with acetylcholine resulting in cholinergic response. Acetylcholine also has the ability to binds to receptors on the pre- synaptic neuron, which inhibits the release of more acetylcholine demonstrating negative feedback loop. The enzyme acetylcholinesterase also has the ability to breakdown acetylcholine found in the synaptic cleft to choline and acetate. This allows for more choline to be taken up by presynaptic neurons to repeat the cycle