Download Unit 4 Problem Set KEY unit4_problemset_key

Biology 100
Problem Set for Unit 4
1. Complete the table.
Drug
Binds to:
Nicotine
Acetylcholine
receptors
Adenosine
receptors
Caffeine
Cocaine
Amphetamine
MDMA
Antidepressants
Dopamine
recycling
transporters
Dopamine
recycling
transporters
Serotonin recycling
transporters
Serotonin recycling
transporter
Binds as (agonist,
antagonist, other)
Agonist
Antagonist
Antagonist
Consequences to cell
upon binding:
Stimulates action
potential
Enables action
potentials (stops
inhibition)
Increases dopamine
levels in the synapse
Antagonist
Increase dopamine
levels in the synapse
Antagonist
Increase serotonin
levels in the synapse
Increase serotonin
levels in the synapse
Antagonist
2. Which medical condition would make stimulant use particularly ill-advised? Check
all that apply.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Narcolepsy
Anorexia
Anxiety often true, but antidepressants are used to treat some forms
Depression
3. How do many stimulants lead to increases in body temperature? There are TWO
considerations. They increase activity and decrease blood vessel diameter therefore less
heat loss to environment.
4. Create a graph that shows the PERCENT CHANGE in pulse rate for worms exposed
to drugs A and B based on the data in the table.
Drug
A
B
Pre-drug pulse (beats per minute)
26
31
63-26 / 26 = 142% (A)
63-31/31 = 103% (B)
Post-drug pulse (beats per minute)
63
63
Biology 100
Problem Set for Unit 4
5. In the data given in the previous question, one student argued that both drugs have
equal ability to elevate the pulse because the post-drug pulse is the same in both cases.
Correct this notion.
Drug A is nearly twice (40% better) as good as drug B in elevating pulse because the
particular worm used in testing drug B had a higher “resting” (pre-drug) pulse and there
was less change to bring it to the same rate as was seen post-drug in worm A.
6. Among the stimulants, which is easiest to overdose on? What data did you consult to
answer this question?
Cocaine, with about TI = 10.
7. Both MDMA and cocaine cause a user to feel a sense of let-down or depression once
the drug has left the system. Explain this on the basis of neurotransmitters.
Both result in poor neurotransmitter recycling, and therefore the neurotransmitters must
be made from scratch because the reserves have been depleted. Until this happens,
people feel blue.
8. Using xanthenes (caffeine and relatives) and amphetamines, what can you generalize
about the presence of a methyl group to stimulants?
More methyls means more impact of the drug, more potency.
9. If one was to look at nicotine half-life and compare that number for different racial groups,
one would see that the half life for Latinos =122 minutes, while the half life for Chinese
Americans = 152 minutes, and the half life for caucasians = 134 minutes.
a)
What would this difference mean in terms of CYP2A6? Longer half lives probably
means weaker enzyme activity, and more satisfaction from less nicotine
b) What would this half life mean in terms of smoking behaviors? Shorter half lives means
people light up more frequently and feel less side effects, therefore more likely to become
addicted. This would seem to affect Latinos more.
10. Wellbutrin is a drug that blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, primarily.
a) Based on this information, do you think Wellbutrin is a stimulant? Yes.
b) Explain. More excitatory neurotransmitter (dopamine and NE) in the synapse means
more action potentials in the post-synaptic cell.