Messages in the Body: Hormones and Drugs

Katie HancockMayo Medical School, Year 1

Hazen c/o 2007

Where We’re Going…

Nervous System› Agonists and Antagonists› How Drugs Work

Endocrine System› Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle› Hormones and Sleep

Nervous System Electrical

Endocrine System Chemical

Agonists help neurotransmitters (NTs)By mimicking NT effectsBy blocking NT reuptake

Antagonists hinder NTsBy blocking NT releaseBy occupying the NT receptor site

Agonists & Antagonists

Drugs: How They Work

Caffeine Alcohol Marijuana Nicotine Cocaine Heroin

How Caffeine Works

Caffeine blocks the neurotransmitter adenosine in the brain (to trick your brain into thinking you’re awake).

How Alcohol Works

Ethanol enhances the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, essentially slowing stuff down.

How Marijuana Works

THC binds to the receptor for the neurotransmitter amandimide and works kind of like amandimide, but

not quite as well.

How Nicotine Works

Nicotine binds to ion channels in the brain that are normally bound by acetylcholine. As a result, nerve firing increases,

and more dopamine is released in the brain’s reward center.

How Cocaine Works

Original ingredient in Coca-Cola Stimulates the central nervous system

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, so there is more dopamine around to do it’s thing.

How Heroin Works

Heroin inhibits the release of GABA, so GABA can’t keep dopamine in check (so again, there’s more

dopamine to do its thing).

The Endocrine System

Menstrual Hormones

Menstrual Hormones

Hormones and Sleep Stages of sleep = N1, N2, N3, REM

› N2 helps form muscle memories

› Growth hormone is secreted in N3

› REM is critical for memory solidification

Athletics

Health

Academics

Hormones and Sleep

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the dark and induces sleep.

In adolescence, both melatonin and growth hormone peak later.

More Sleep = Better Health

Obesity:

Sleep-deprived individuals have lower leptin, higher ghrelin, higher visfatin, fluctuating seratonin, and decreased metabolic function.

Those who sleep less than 8hrs are at 3x greater risk for obesity than those who sleep more than 10hrs.

More Sleep = Better Health

Mental Health:

Adolescents who sleep less than 5hrs are at 71% higher risk for depression and 48% higher risk of suicidal thoughts than those who get 8hrs.

Sleep deprivation leads to more irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, and substance abuse.

More Sleep = Safer Teens

1 week on 6hrs/night = same cognitive function as someone who is legally drunk

1 drink on 6hrs of sleep = 6 drinks on 8hrs

Those under 25 years old are responsible for more than half of fall-asleep car crashes› Mostly in the morning on the way to school

More Sleep = Better Grades

HS Students who get A’s and B’s sleep 10-33min longer and go to bed 10-50min earlier than those who get C’s, D’s, and F’s.

REM solidifies memories, and most REM occurs between 6-8 hours of sleep.

Questions?Feel free to contact me! Hancock.katie@mayo.edu