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We’ll have reduced opening hours from Thursday 18 until Saturday 20 August, due to strike action affecting UK transport networks. The galleries, Reading Room and café will close at 17:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The library will close at 17:00 on Thursday and Friday, and at 16:00 as usual on Saturday. Please check our opening times for more information.

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Printed advertisement for Dr Johnson's Yellow Ointment, 'formerly prepared by Mr Thomas Singleton, Proprietor, Lambeth Butts; but now by his son, William Singleton, (sole proprietor) no 2, Union-Place, Lambeth aforesaid. The advertisement reads: This Ointment is of great Use in Inflammations, and all other Disorders of the Eyes; and is calculated for all Scorbutic Humours in any Part of the Body, drawing out the Humour, and is no Ways repellant ...

Advertisement for Dr Johnson's Yellow Ointment

Crystals of benzimidazole. Benzimidazole is used as a fungicide in agriculture and to treat worms in human and veterinary medicine.

Benzimidazole crystals

Illustration showing the action of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft before (left) and after the addition of a selective reuptake inhibitor class of drug (right) such as an SSRI or anNRI.

Vesicles containing the neurotransmitter (green) move towrds the pre- synaptic membrance where they fuse with the cell membrane, releasing their contents into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmmitter molecules act on the post-synaptic cell by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface (purple). They can also be taken back up by the presynaptic cell via other receptors (orange) for re-use.

When the drug (red) is present, the reuptake receptors (orange) are selectively blocked and the neurotransmitters (green) such as serotonin or noradrenaline cannnot be taken back up into the pre- synaptic cell. This allows more neurotransmitter molecules to remain in the synaptic cleft and increases the likelihood of them binding to receptors (purple) on the post-synaptic cell, thereby strengthening their effect.

Neurotransmitters

Illustration showing the action of selective reuptake inhibitor drugs(red) such as the SSRIs and NRIs. These drugs work by selectively blocking neurotransmitters (green) such as serotonin and noradrenaline from being taken back up into the pre-synaptic cell after having been released into the synaptic cleft. This allows more neurotransmitter molecules to remain in the synaptic cleft and increases the likelihood of them binding to receptors (purple) on the post-synaptic cell, thereby strengthening their effect.

Action of SSRIs and NRIs

The drug salbutamol is used in inhalers for conditions where there is a narrowing of the airways, such as bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. It is a short-acting beta 2 agonist, acting on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. Stimulation of these receptors causes the muscles in the airways to relax and open. The cluster of crystals is about 600 micrometres in diameter.

Salbutamol crystals

Molecular model of human enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme catalyses the first step in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and is inhibited by statins. The four protein subunits are shown in blue, turquoise, yellow and red. Pink highlights the CoA and green, the molecule that will be released from the enzyme as mevalonate.

HMG-CoA reductase

Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra tablets, a medicine used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence).

An erection involves signals from the nervous system and the release of chemical messengers within the tissues of the penis. One of these chemical messengers is called cyclic GMP which causes widening of the blood vessels allowing more blood to flow to the penis

Cyclic GMP is normally broken down by the chemical phosphodiesterase type 5 and sildenafil prevents the action of this chemical and inhibits the breakdown of cyclic GMP. Blood vessels are dilated for longer, improving blood flow to the penis and maintaining an erection.
The large group of crystals in the centre are 100 micrometres in diameter.

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra

Molecular model of human enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme catalyses the first step in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and is inhibited by statins. The four protein subunits are shown in blue, turquoise, yellow and red. Pink highlights the CoA and green, the molecule that will be released from the enzyme as mevalonate. Biomedical Image Awards 2005.

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Advertisement for Dr Johnson's Yellow Ointment

Benzimidazole crystals

Neurotransmitters

Action of SSRIs and NRIs

Salbutamol crystals

Salbutamol crystals

HMG-CoA reductase

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra

Crystals of benzimidazole. Benzimidazole is used as a fungicide in agriculture and to treat worms in human and veterinary medicine.

HMG-CoA reductase

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More filters

Active filters:

Advertisement for Dr Johnson's Yellow Ointment

Benzimidazole crystals

Neurotransmitters

Action of SSRIs and NRIs

Salbutamol crystals

Salbutamol crystals

HMG-CoA reductase

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra

Crystals of benzimidazole. Benzimidazole is used as a fungicide in agriculture and to treat worms in human and veterinary medicine.

HMG-CoA reductase

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

Wellcome collection