Central nervous system major function

Tryptamine itself is found in all major centers of the brain. Its physiologic role in central nervous system (CNS) function, however, remains unclear. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) is an important neurotransmitter in the CNS. The structural similarity of the tryptamine-related hallucinogens with 5-HT presumably forms the neurochemical basis for their action within the CNS. 

GABA (7-aminobntyric acid) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its functional significance is far-reaching, and altered GABA-ergic function plays a role in many nenrologic and psychiatric disorders. 

Histamine is a biogenic amine that is widely distributed in the body and functions as a major mediator of inflammation and allergic reactions, as a physiological regulator of gastric acid secretion in the stomach, as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and may also have a role in tissue growth and repair. 

Tetanus occurs when Cl. tetani, ubiquitous in the soil and faeces, contaminates wounds, especially deep puncture-type lesions. These might be minor traumas such as a splinter, or major ones such as battle injury. At these sites, tissue necrosis and possibly microbial growth reduce the oxygen tension to allow this anaerobe to multiply. Its growth is accompanied by the production of a highly potent toxin which passes up peripheral nerves and diSuses locally within the central nervous system. It acts like strychnine by affecting normal function at the synapses. Since the motor nerves of the brain stem are the shortest, the cranial nerves are the first affected, with twitches of the eyes and spasms of the jaw (lockjaw). 

The ability of the anesthetic agent to function is related to the partial pressure of the drug in the brain. Two major factors dictate the concentration of anesthetic agent in the neural tissue (1) the pressure gradients from lung alveoli to the brain (i.e., inhaled gas —> alveoli — bloodstream —> brain) and (2) the lipid solubility of the drug that enables it to pass between the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system. 

Dementia is a major risk factor for delirium. Many illnesses may increase the risk of delirium. Infections, cardiac, metabolic and of course diseases in the central nervous system may all make elderly more vulnerable to delirium. Vision impairment and functional impairment are also well-known risk factors as well as premorbid cognitive impairment (Korevaar et al. 2005, Inouye et al. 2007). 

Defines the objective of safety pharmacology studies to Anon23 reveal functional effects on major physiological systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and central nervous systems)... 

Glutamate is the major excitatory amino acid in the brain. It has a key role in learning and memory and is involved in the mediation of the response to stress. Glutamate receptors are present throughout the central nervous system but differ widely according to their localisation and function (Kent et al. 2002), and as a result have not been easy to identify as targets for pharmacological manipulation. 

Synthetic drugs of comparable selectivity and affinity to the 1,4-dihydropyridines do not yet exist for the other channel types, T, N, P/Q, and R these remain characterized by complex polypeptide toxins of the aga- and conotoxin classes. Neuronal pharmacology, including that of the central nervous system (CNS), is dominated by the N, P/Q, and R channels. This underscores the normally weak effect of L-channel antagonists on CNS function. Drugs that act at the N, P, and R channels with comparable selectivity and affinity to the 1,4-dihydropyridines may be expected to offer major potential for a variety of CNS disorders, including neuronal damage and death from ischemic insults. 

Glutamate (Glu) is the most abundant amino acid in the central nervous system (CNS). It serves many functions as an intermediate in neuronal metabolism, e.g., as a precursor for GABA. About 30% of the total glutamate in the brain functions as the major excitatory neurotransmitter. 

The other major class of transporter protein is the carrier protein. A prototypic example of a carrier protein is the large neutral amino acid transporter. An important function of the LNAA transporter is to transport molecules across the blood-brain barrier. As discussed previously, most compounds cross the BBB by passive diffusion. However, the brain requires certain compounds that are incapable of freely diffusing across the BBB phenylalanine and glucose are two major examples of such compounds. The LNAA serves to carry phenylalanine across the BBB and into the central nervous system. Carrier proteins, such as the LNAA transporter, can be exploited in drug design. For example, highly polar molecules will not diffuse across the BBB. However, if the pharmacophore of this polar molecule is covalently bonded to another molecule which is a substrate for the LNAA, then it is possible that the pharmacophore will be delivered across the BBB by hitching a ride on the transported molecule. 

The nervous system is conventionally divided into the central nervous system (CNS the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS neuronal tissues outside the CNS). The motor (efferent) portion of the nervous system can be divided into two major subdivisions autonomic and somatic. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is largely independent (autonomous) in that its activities are not under direct conscious control. It is concerned primarily with visceral functions such as cardiac output, blood flow to various organs, and digestion, which are necessary for life. The somatic subdivision is largely concerned with consciously controlled functions such as movement, respiration, and posture. Both systems have important afferent (sensory) inputs that provide information regarding the internal and external environments and modify motor output through reflex arcs of varying size and complexity. 

Glutamate is the major exitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system and its interactions with membrane receptors play a critical role in nearly every aspect of brain function, including cognition, memory and sensation. 

Methamphetamine is a very powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is associated with thought and emotions, and movement, along with basic body functions such as heart rate and breathing rate. The brain and spinal cord are the major anatomical components of the CNS. Any substance, like methamphetamine, that can cause major changes in the CNS can most certainly have major and sometimes deadly consequences. 

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