Basic Neurotransmission & Neuroendocrinology

Question 1

senescence

Answer 1

inorganisms: gradual deterioration of function
in cells: cessation of cell division

Question 2

inhibitory interneurons

Answer 2

release GABA
absence increases risk for seizure
are more vulnerable to cell death
lost in AD

Question 3

glutamate

Answer 3

excitatory
amino-acid derived
synthesised from glutamine
in glial cells
abundant in brain
neuromodulatory
iono- and metabotropic
doesn’t cross BBB

Question 4

GABA

Answer 4

inhibitory
amino-acid derived
made from glutamate
only expressed in interneurons
iono- and metabotropic

Question 5

systems affected by GABA

Answer 5

noradrenalin
dopamine
serotonin
anticonvulsant

Question 6

what makes a neuron?

Answer 6

speed
-> giving the ability to react, not only adapt

Question 7

defining properties of neurotransmitters

Answer 7

1. synthesised in neuron
2. released in synaptic cleft
3. binds to post-synaptic membrane
4. removed / degraded from synaptic cleft

Question 8

ways of intracellular messaging

Answer 8

1. ligand
2. G protein
3. kinase
4. nuclear receptors
   -> only ligand and G protein are high speed

Question 9

kinase-linked receptors

Answer 9

kinase = enzyme transferring phosphate donating molecules to substrate
-> phosphorylating
affect gene transcription

Question 10

nuclear receptors

Answer 10

within nucleus
bind to DNA
act as transcription factor
e. g. steroids, thryroid hormones, cholesterol, vitamins

Question 11

co-packing

Answer 11

co-release of two neurotransmitters
could even be excitatory + inhibitory

Question 12

glutamate transporters

Answer 12

VGLUT 1, 2 and 3
in neurons
EAAT 1 & 2 = excitatory amino acid transporter
in dendrites and axon terminals

Question 13

glutamate receptors

Answer 13

all ionotropic
AMPA
NMDA
kainite

Question 14

AMPA

Answer 14

glutamate receptor
the fastest
only ligand activated

Question 15

NMDA

Answer 15

glutamate receptor
slower
ligand activated
voltage + ligand activated

Question 16

pentameric structure

Answer 16

five proteins
lipophilic loops inside
another loop forms channel
subunits denoted by Greek letters
negatively charged to attract positive ions

Question 17

receptor sides

Answer 17

receptor side, where ligand attaches
modulatory side

Question 18

artificial GABA ligands

Answer 18

ethanol
benzodiazepines

Question 19

GABA receptor pentamer

Answer 19

two alpa
two beta
one gamma subunit
each subunit has variations
thereby hundreds possible combinations

Question 20

modes of modulation

Answer 20

phasic: acute, by neurotransmitter release
tonic: chronic, background threshold neurotransmitter
caused by spillover / incomplete cleanup

Question 21

GABA’s main purpose

Answer 21

increasing membrane permeability to chloride and ions

Question 22

tonic activation function

Answer 22

increasing cells’ conductance
reducing probability of ESPS

Question 23

receptors for phasic inhibition

Answer 23

gamma 2
alpha 1, 2 and 3

Question 24

receptors for tonic inhibition

Answer 24

alpha 4, 5 and 6

Question 25

LTP cascade

Answer 25

glutamate binds to AMPA and NMDA
consolidation
morphogenesis of spines
by actin polymerisation
-> number of AMPA receptors increases
LTP maintenance stabilises spines
by stabilising actin filaments

Question 26

trisynaptic circuit

Answer 26

1. dentate gyrus
2. CA3
3. CA1

Question 27

dentate gyrus cells

Answer 27

granule cells
mossy fibers

Question 28

CA3 cells

Answer 28

pyramidal cells

Question 29

CA1 cells

Answer 29

pyramidal cells

Question 30

Schaffer collateral pathway

Answer 30

connecting CA3 and CA1

Question 31

window of plasticity in neurons

Answer 31

around four days
until then everything is excitable

Question 32

immature cells

Answer 32

GABA is excitatory in these neurons
have lower resting potential
large NKCC1
small KCC2

Question 33

mature cells

Answer 33

GABA is inhibitory
small NKCC1
large KCC2