1. Explain the agonist-to-antagonist spectrum of action of
psychopharmacologic agents.
The spectrum of agonists to antagonists describes how substances,
either occurring naturally (ligand) or synthetically such as
psychopharmacologic agent, effect receptor sites (Stahl, 2008). The
agonists are agents can increase an action on the receptor by
mimicking a naturally occurring agent (Strange, 2008). An antagonist
acts by blocking the receptor site to decrease the action of agents
(Strange, 2008). Substances can also be partial agonists, which is an
action that ranges between full agonist and full antagonist. Instead of
increasing an action to the maximum level or blocking the action
completely, it is an action that is somewhere in between the two levels
(Strange, 2008). Many psychopharmacologic agents work by acting on
G-protein-linked systems and ion-channel systems because these are
triggered by neurotransmitters (Stahl, 2008).
1. Compare and contrast the actions of g couple proteins and
ion gated channels.
G protein-coupled and ion-gated channels are both triggered by
neurotransmitters (Stahl, 2008). G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
have seven transmembrane alpha helices (Strange, 2008). G proteins
have three subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma). Ion-gated channels can
be activated by electrical signals and neurotransmitters (Stahl, 2008).
Ion-gated channels change the flow of ions, causing an almost-
immediate effect and GPCRs take longer to work because they may
make changes to cellular function over time (Stahl, 2008).
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller StarScoreGrades. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R282,29. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
