Neuropharmacology

(5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module assumes that students are familiar with the material covered in BL2101. The basic principles of pharmacology will be covered, including evidence to support the modern concept that drugs act via specific receptors present on target tissues and our present understanding of laws governing drug-receptor interactions. The concept of agonists, competitive and non-competitive antagonists and the interactions between such classes of drugs will be discussed. The effects of drugs upon the peripheral and central nervous systems and the cardiovascular system will be covered. How these drugs can be used to understand the function of these systems and to correct their malfunctioning in various disease states will be explained. The practical component will cover the principles of drug action and receptor theory and illustrate the use of bioassays in pharmacological investigations. These practical sessions aim to help students build a working knowledge of drug names and actions as well as pharmacological concepts.