Jeff is admitted to the hospital and Dr. Wayne examines him. Jeff is unconscious

Question

Jeff is admitted to the hospital and Dr. Wayne examines him. Jeff is unconscious but seems to be experiencing some paralysis, so Dr. Wayne orders blood work. Results are listed below. Test Result Normal Range Blood pressure 105/65 90-120/60-80 Hematocrit (%) 37.5 36-38 Glucose (mg/dl) 88 70-110 Sodium (mmol/L) 139 135-145 Potassium (mmol/L) 3.8 3.5-5.0 AChE Activity Test (%) 44 100 Antibodies for ACh receptors Not Present Not Present Dr. Wayne looks over the results and knows from Jeff’s colleague that he is a bioweapons biochemist. Dr. Wayne figures out that Jeff has been working on synthesizing a new sarin-like biochemical weapon and suspects Jeff has a type of poisoning that is similar to that of sarin. Questions 3. Which of Jeff’s levels are abnormal? 4. How would exposure to a sarin-like poison affect the amounts of Na+ going into the muscle cell? Explain. 5. How would exposure to a sarin or sarin-like chemical affect Ca2+ levels inside the sarcoplasmic reticulum? Explain. 6. How do these altered Ca2+ levels affect the position of the actin and myosin filaments? Why/how? 7. What needs to happen to Jeff’s motor end plate to remedy his paralysis? Physiologically what does he need more of, and where?

Explanation / Answer

3. Which of Jeff’s levels are abnormal?

ANS: The AChE activity level is low. A normal range would be 100, but his results came out to be 44.

4. How would exposure to a sarin-like poison affect the amounts of Na+ going into the muscle cell? Explain.

ANS: It would increase the amount of sodium going into the cell because it is constantly stimulated.

5. How would exposure to a sarin or sarin-like chemical affect Ca2+ levels inside the sarcoplasmic reticulum? Explain.

ANS: The levels would be lowered because the calcium is being released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

6. How do these altered Ca2+ levels affect the position of the actin and myosin filaments? Why/how?

ANS: They stay contracted because they are being overstimulated.

7. What needs to happen to Jeff’s motor end plate to remedy his paralysis? Physiologically what does he need more of, and where?

ANS: We need to lower ACh. We need more of AChE in the synapse.

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