Cellular Physiology Of The Brain

Question 1

Give some roles of astrocytes.

Answer 1

Help form the BB
Glucose-lactate shuffle (nutrition)
Buffer K+ levels
Neurotransmitter removal

Question 2

Which receptor is unregulated in long term potentiation?

Answer 2

AMPA.

Question 3

What is the main inhibitory NT in the brainstem and spinal cord?

Answer 3

Glycine

Question 4

What is the difference between GABAa and GABAb receptors?

Answer 4

GABAa - integral Cl- channels - cause hyperpolarisatoin

GABAb - GPCRs - modulatory role

Question 5

What can degeneration of neurones in the nucleus basalis lead to?

Answer 5

Alzheimers.

Question 6

Give 3 cholinergic pathways in the brain.

Give 4 functions of these pathways.

Answer 6

Nucleus basalis to the cortex
Striatum interneurones
Medial septal nucleus to the hippocampus
SN to the thalamus

Arousal
Learning
Memory
Motor control

Question 7

Give two places where the noradrenergic pathways originate in the CNS.

Where does the one of these originating from the pons project to?

Where does the other project to?

Answer 7

Locus ceruleus
Reticular formation

Cortex
AMygdala
Hippocampus
Cerebellum

Nucleus tractus solitarius
Spinal cord

Question 8

Relate NA role in arousal to ampetamine use.

Relate to depression.

Answer 8

Amphetamines increases release of noradrenaline and dopamine and therefore increase wakefulness.

Associated with a deficiency of NA.

Question 9

Where is serotonin mainly made in the brain?

Functions in the brain?

Answer 9

Raphe nucleus

Sleep/wakefullness
Mood

Question 10

Name the four major dopamine pathways in the brain.

Which one is involved in motor control?

Answer 10

Tuberoinfundibular
Mesocortical (ventral tegmentum projects to pre-frontal cortex)
Mesolimbic (ventral tegmentum to the amygdala and hippocampus)
NIgrostriatal

NIgrostriatal.