Biochemical and Cell Signalling Pathways in Transmission of Nerve Signals

Question 1

What affects axonal conduction

Answer 1

Lenght, diameter, myeline sheath, Na+ and K+ ion movement dependant

Question 2

Examples of classical neurotransmitter types

Answer 2

Amino acids
Monoamines
Acetylcholine

Question 3

Examples of non-classical neurotransmitters

Answer 3

Neuropeptides
Lipids
Gases

Question 4

What is glutamate

Answer 4

Main excitatory neurotransmitter

Formed from krebs cycle by amination of alpha-ketoglutarate

Question 5

What are VGLUT

Answer 5

vesicle glutamine transporters

Best marker for glutamatergic synapses

Question 6

What is GABA

Answer 6

Major inhibitory transmitter

Formed when glutamate is converted by glutamic acid decarboxylase

Question 7

What type of receptors do GABAa and GABAb act via

Answer 7

GABAa - ionotropic (mediates fast synaptic inhibition in the CNS)

GABAb - metabotropic

Question 8

What is VMAT

Answer 8

vesice monoamine trasnporters
Transporter protein fill vesicles with catecholamines
Inhibited by reserpine

Question 9

What two processes remove catecholamines

Answer 9

Monoamine oxidase

CAtecholamine transporters

Question 10

How does MAO work

Answer 10

Deaminates catecholamines

Question 11

How do catecholamines transporters work

Answer 11

transport for reuse or recycling

Uptake inhibitors act as anti-depressants

Question 12

What is the function of serotonin

Answer 12

Causes smooth muscle contraction

Functionally similar to catecholamines

Question 13

What is another name for serotonin

Answer 13

5-HT

Question 14

What is acetylcholine

Answer 14

Neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junction
Synthesised from choline
pumped into vesicles using VChAT
Inavtivated by acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase

Question 15

What are zymogens

Answer 15

Inactive pro-hormones
Synthesised in cell body
activated in the golgi
transported to terminals using fast axonal transport

Question 15

How are non-classical neurotransmitters inactivated

Answer 15

Diffusion or breakdown

Peptide and receptor complexes can be endocytosed

Question 16

DIfferences between unconventional neurotransmitters and normal

Answer 16

Not stored in synapses
Not exocytosed
Not intentionally inactivated
Does not have cell surface receptors

Question 17

What are endocannabinoids

Answer 17

retrograde neurotransmitters
important in learning and memory and food intake
syntheissed drom memrbane lipids
Inactivated by FAAHm MGL and anadamide transporter

Question 18

The function of noradrenergic neural pathway

Answer 18

Attention, arousal, sleep-wake cycles, learning, memory, anxiety, pain and mood

Question 19

Describe the origin and termination of noradrenogenic neural pathway

Answer 19

Originates: locus coeruleus of the pons
Terminates: cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, cerebellum, midbrain, spinal cord

Question 20

What are the functions of the serotonogenic pathway

Answer 20

Lower nuclei: Pain, locomotion

Upper nuclei: Sleep-wake cycle, mood and emotional behaviors, such as aggression and depression

Question 21

Where does the serotonogenic pathway originate and terminate

Answer 21

Originate: Raphe nuclei along brain stem midline
Terminate: Lower nuclei project to spinal cord
Upper nuclei project to most of brain