Acetylcholine and Dopamine

Question 1

What is the use of acetylcholine?

Answer 1

It’s used to act at neuromuscular junctions to allow motor neurones to activate muscle. Uses salivary glands. Makes you cry.

Question 2

Name one of the acetylcholine pathways.

Answer 2

Nucleus basalis pathway. Septohippocampal pathway. Substantia nigra to thalamus pathway.

Question 3

What enzyme converts Choline (diet + recycled) + Acetyl-CoA (Krebs Cycle) into Acetylcholine?

Answer 3

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT).

Question 4

What transporter is used in acetylcholine storage into vesicles?

Answer 4

Vesicular acetylcholine transporter.

Question 5

What ion is responsible for acetylcholine release thorough membranes?

Answer 5

Calcium.

Question 6

Name the two types of receptors responding to acetylcholine.

Answer 6

Nicotinic. Muscarinic.

Question 7

What happens to acetylcholine before it is re-uptaken?

Answer 7

It is degraded to choline. (Unusual!).

Question 8

How is acetylcholine converted into choline and acetic acid?

Answer 8

Acetylcholinesterase.

Question 9

How does botulinus toxin relax your muscles in your face?

Answer 9

Blocks acetylcholine release.

Question 10

Suxamethonium (for general anaesthesia and nicotine are full agonists acting on which receptors?

Answer 10

Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors.

Question 11

Varenacline is a partial agonist, used to treat which addiction?

Answer 11

Nicotine.

Question 12

Atropine, ipratropium, benztropium and procyclidine all act on which receptors?

Answer 12

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Question 13

Benztropium and procyclidine are both used to treat which movement disorder?

Answer 13

Parkinsonism.

Question 14

What is the action of hemicholinium?

Answer 14

It prevents the re-uptake of acetylcholine.

Question 15

What is the action of endophonium, neostigmine, physostigmine, galantamine and rivastigmine (CNS)?

Answer 15

They prevent the degradation of acetylcholine, to increase its concentration at sites of cholinergic transmission.

Question 16

What is the antidote to neostigmine?

Answer 16

Atropine (reversible antagonist).

Question 17

State 3 diseases affected by acetylcholine.

Answer 17

Dementia (learning and memory). Myasthenia gravis (NMJ). Parkinson’s (motor control). Motion sickness (vestibular control). Analgesia (pain).

Question 18

What is the action of suxamethonium?

Answer 18

An anaesthetic.

Question 19

What is the action of carbachol?

Answer 19

Treats glaucoma.

Question 20

What is the action of varenacline?

Answer 20

Treats nicotine addiction.

Question 21

What is the action of atropine?

Answer 21

Eye inflammation. Slows heart rate. Decrease saliva production during surgery.

Question 22

What pathway is affected in Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 22

Nigrostriatal pathway.

Question 23

What converts tyrosine in diet into DOPA?

Answer 23

Tyrosine hydroxylase.

Question 24

What converts DOPA into dopamine?

Answer 24

Dopa decarboxylase.

Question 25

What transporters are used in dopamine storage?

Answer 25

Vesicular monoamine transporter.

Question 26

What ion is dopamine dependent on?

Answer 26

Calcium.

Question 27

Which receptors does Dopamine act?

Answer 27

G-protein coupled receptors.

Question 28

What is DAT used for?

Answer 28

Dopamine active transporter - ensures dopamine re-uptake.

Question 29

What substance is used in the blood and urine to determine dopamine levels?

Answer 29

Homovanilic acid.

Question 30

Name 2 of the enzymes used in the breakdown of dopamine.

Answer 30

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Monoamine oxidase (MAO). Aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Question 31

What is Levo DOPA used for?

Answer 31

It’s used in the synthesis of Dopamine. Crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Question 32

What drug is used in to prevent the storage of dopamine?

Answer 32

Reserpine. Methamphetamine.

Question 33

What is the role of amantadine?

Answer 33

Dopamine release.

Question 34

DA, apomorphine and bromocriptine are all…

Answer 34

Full agonists acting on dopamine receptors.

Question 35

Haloperidol and chlopromazine are all…

Answer 35

Antagonists acting on dopamine receptors.

Question 36

What is the function of cocaine, bupropion and methylpenidate on dopamine?

Answer 36

Prevent re-uptake.

Question 37

How does phenelzine and selegiline prevent the degradation of dopamine?

Answer 37

MAO inhibitors.

Question 38

How does entacapone and tolcapone prevent the degradation of dopamine?

Answer 38

COMT inhibitors.

Question 39

Name two symptoms/diseases which are affected by dopamine.

Answer 39

Parkinson’s disease. Schizophrenia.

Question 40

Name two symptoms which are affected by dopamine.

Answer 40

Nausea. Hormonal disturbances.