Copy of `Vernalis - Bio-pharmaceutical glossary`

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Vernalis - Bio-pharmaceutical glossary Category: Health and Medicine > pharmaceutical Date & country: 11/12/2007, UK Words: 111

Substantia Nigra
A group of nerve cell bodies in the mid-brain that contain dopamine. It is this part of the brain that degenerates in Parkinson's disease. The levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are unusually low in Parkinson's patients. Replacement of dopamine is one strategy to relieve symptoms.

Synthesis
The preparation of a substance by chemical means as opposed to its extraction from a natural source.

Toxic
Causing an undesired or adverse effect. Most substances will cause adverse effects if high enough doses are given.

Toxicology
The study of the undesired or adverse effects of a substance on the body.

Triptan
All marketed drugs have an internationally approved name for the compound (drug substance), as distinct from the trade name. The system of naming employs a common “stem� for each member of a class of compounds sharing the same mechanism of action. “Triptan� (as in frovatriptan) is the stem adopted for drugs that act on 5-HT1 receptors and which share a similar mechanism of action in relieving migraine attacks.

Vasoconstriction
An induced narrowing of blood vessels.

Vasodilation
An induced expansion of blood vessels.

Vasospasm
Prolonged and profound constriction of blood vessels leading to inadequate blood supply to a tissue or organ.

White Matter
Areas of the brain rich in axons. The white appearance occurs due to the high density of myelin, the fatty insulation which covers the axons (like insulation on electrical cable).

Xanthine
A molecular structure found in many common drugs and products (eg caffeine).

A2A
A subtype of adenosine receptor which is believed to be important in Parkinson's disease, depression and anxiety.