Biology Forums - Study Force

Other Fields Homework Help Other Topic started by: padre on Aug 27, 2010



Title: Describe the mode of action of action of the drug reserpine. What type of protein does it bind and
Post by: padre on Aug 27, 2010
Describe the mode of action of action of the drug reserpine.  What type of protein does it bind and what is the overall effect of the drug on neurons?

help ???


Title: Describe the mode of action of action of the drug reserpine. What type of protein does it bind and
Post by: bio_man on Aug 27, 2010
Hey Padre,

reserpine inhibits normal sympathetic activity in both the CNS and peripheral nervous system by binding to catecholamine storage vesicles. It blocks the vesicular monoamine transporter protein which is responsible for maintaining the noradrenaline concentration in vesicles located inside nerve terminals. As a result, reserpine causes nerve terminals to become depleted of their noradrenaline and catecholamine stores. Transport of noradrenaline into vesicles occurs by a reserpine-sensitive transporter. Noradrenaline content of cytosol is normally low due to monoamine oxidase in nerve terminals. In human systems, reserpine treats patients of hypertension due to a reduction of cardiac output. In recent studies, reserpine has also been described as inhibiting catecholamine synthesis by blocking the uptake of dopamine into the storage vesicle.

Bio_man