A common neurotransmitter is acetylcholine (ACh), which excites the post-synaptic neuron - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 18
A common neurotransmitter is acetylcholine (ACh), which excites the post-synaptic neuron. Lack of ACh in brain synapses has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. A num... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A common neurotransmitter is acetylcholine (ACh), which excites the post-synaptic neuron - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
a. administer esrine as a drug
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Answer
Administering esrine could inhibit acetylcholinesterase, thereby preventing the breakdown of ACh. This would increase levels of ACh in the synapse, possibly improving transmission and alleviating symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Step 2
b. inject curare into the patient’s CNS
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Answer
Injecting curare would block post-synaptic receptors and would likely worsen symptoms by preventing ACh from exerting its effects, making it an inappropriate treatment.
Step 3
c. recommend that the patient stop smoking
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Answer
Recommending that the patient stop smoking does not directly address the acetylcholine deficiency associated with Alzheimer’s, so its effectiveness as a treatment is unclear.
Step 4
d. purposely infect the patient with Clostridium
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Answer
Infecting the patient with Clostridium would lead to decreased levels of ACh, further exacerbating Alzheimer’s symptoms. This option is not a viable treatment.
