2 - Intro to Neurotransmission Flashcards

1
Q

what is the input region of a neuron?

A

dendrites

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2
Q

what is the main conduction unit of a neuron?

A

axon

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3
Q

what is the output region of the neuron?

A

axon terminal

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4
Q

what type of synapses are very rare in the adult brain?

A

electrical synapses

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5
Q

what is the gap in a chemical synapse called?

A

synaptic cleft

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6
Q

what initiates neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal?

A

action potential opening Ca2+ channels

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7
Q

what are the 4 main stages of neurotransmitter activity across the synapse?

A
  • synthesis
  • storage
  • release
  • inactivation/reuptake
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8
Q

exocytosis

A

process of presynaptic vesicles binding to presynaptic membranes and releasing neurotransmitters directly into the synapse

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9
Q

agonist

A

substance which stimulates the receptors and mimics the natural ligand

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10
Q

antagonist

A

subtances that block the receptor and prevents the effects of the natural ligand

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11
Q

partial agonist

A

agonist that is unable to induce maximal activation of a receptor population, regardless of the amount of drug applied

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12
Q

which class of receptors are most important in neurotransmission due to their rapid conduction?

A

ionotropic receptors

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13
Q

receptors for what hormones are ionotropic receptors?

A

ACh
Glutamate
GABA

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14
Q

what is the mechanism of inotropic receptors?

A
  • neurotransmitter binds to receptors that is part of ligand-gated ion channel proteins
  • activation causes conformational change
  • allows passage of Na+ (excitatory) or K+/Cl- ions (inhibitory)
  • makes membrane potential more +ve or -ve which moves it closer or further from threshhold
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15
Q

how are metabotropic receptors coupled to effector mechanism?

A

via G-proteins

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16
Q

what is the mechanism of metabotropic receptors?

A
  • agonist molecule combines the receptor proteins in membrane
  • associated G proteins cause conformational change
  • ions move in or out of cell
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17
Q

list these receptors in order of speed (fastest to slowest):
* kinase-linked receptors
* ionotropic receptors
* intracellular receptors
* metabotropc receptors

A
  • ionotropic -msecs-secs
  • metabotropic - secs-mins-hours
  • kinase-linked - mins-hours
  • intracellular - hours-days
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18
Q

where are ionotropic receptors used?

A

fast neurotransmission (nerve to nerve, somatic nerve to skeletal muscle)

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19
Q

where are metabotropic receptors used?

A

slower neurotransmission processes such as hormone action or growth factor action

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20
Q

agonist efficacy in iontropic receptors relates to what?

A

mean channel open time

21
Q

agonist efficacy in metabotropic receptors relates to what?

A

ability to activate G-proteins

22
Q

where are kinase-linked receptors used?

A

regulation of growth
differentiation and responses to metabolic signals

23
Q

where are intracellular receptors used

A

used by lipid-solube steroid hormones, affecting DNA transcription processed

24
Q

how is dopamine synthesised?

A
  • L-Tyrosine converted to L-Dopa by tyrosine hydroxylase
  • L-Dopa converted to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase (DDC)
25
what converts L-tyrosine to L-dopa
tyrosine hydroxylase
26
what converts L-dopa to dopamine?
dopa decarboxylase
27
what is the rate-determining step in dopamine synthesis?
tyrosine hydroxylase, as it becomes saturated by the substrate
28
what postsynaptic receptors can dopamine bind to?
* D1 family (D1 & D5) - excitatory * D2 family (D2/3/4) - inhibitory
28
how is dopamine inactivated/reuptaken?
* metabolised by enzymes - COMT or MAO * reuptake process - dopamine transported (DAT)
29
what are the 4 major dopamine pathways?
1. nigrostriatal pathway 2. mesolimbic pathway 3. mesocortical pathway 3. tuberoinfundibular pathway
30
which dopamine pathway is associated with parkinson's disease?
nigrostriatal
31
which dopamine pathway is associated with +ve symptoms of SZ
nigrostriatal
32
which dopamine pathway is associated with drug abuse?
mesolimbic
33
which dopamine pathway is associated with -ve symptoms of SZ?
mesocortical
34
which dopamine pathway is associated with the side effects of drugs/medication?
tuberoinfundibular
35
what is parkinsons diseas?
* loss of dopamine neurons in the motor circuit * when 60-70% of neurones are lost = symptoms
36
thinking about the synapes involved in parkinsons, what are two potential targets of drug treament?
* give patient L-dopa * give pt agonist that could activate D1 receptors
37
what does the basal ganglia consist of?
5 large subcortical nuclei that participate in the control of movement
38
what are 4 important neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia?
GABA Dopamine glutamte ACh
39
nodes of ranvier?
gaps on unmyelinated neurones between sections of myelin sheath
40
where do pain pathways cross the midline?
spinal cord
41
where do proprioceptive pathways cross the midline?
medulla
42
Label the AP
43
Label the neuronal body
44
Label the dopamine pathways
45
Draw a diagram illustrating the dopamine and motor circuit in the basal ganglia
46
What are the intracellular and extracellular levels of : Na K A Cl
47
Draw a diagram showing what happens when there is increased dopamine in the motor circuit of the basal ganglia
48