Chapter 5: Catecholamines Flashcards
Catcholamines
Part of monoamine or biogenic amine group
- dopamine- dopaminergic
- norepinephrine- noradrenergic
- epinephrine- adrenergic
Catecholamines are synthesized from the amino acid […]
Tyrosine
- is obtained from the diet (protein)
- Transported from blood to brain
Tyrosine —>
DOPA
DOPA
Enzyme: tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)
- rate-limiting enzyme - adds -OH group - regulated by how much DA or NE is present in nerve terminals - high catecholamine levels inhibit TH (negative feedback)
Cofactors: Fe2+, O2, BH4
DOPA —>
Dopamine
Enzyme: Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)
- nonselective - removes -COOH group
Cofactors: pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6)
Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)
Converted to dopamine (DA) in the brain
- administered with peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors
- crosses BB and then is decarboxylated
Dopamine —>
Norepinephrine
Enzyme: dopamine beta- hydroxylase (DBH)
- adds -OH group
Cofactors: Cu2+, O2, Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, reducing agent)
Norepinephrine —>
Epinephrine
Enzymes: para-N-methyltransferase (PNMT)
- adds methyl group
Cofactors: S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)
- methyl donor
TH is critical point in catecholamine synthesis
- TH is rate-limiting enzyme
- TH is regulated by end- product inhibition
- negative feedback
- more DA and DOPA, less TH activity (reduces speed) - Activated by phosphorylation
- increases neural activity increases TH activity
- PKA, PKC/ERK, CaMKII (increases Ca2+ release)
- Ser 40, Ser 31, and Ser 19 in the regulatory domain of TH
Catecholamine are loaded into vesicles by […]
Vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT)
Vesicular packaging- protects NT from degradation by enzymes within nerve terminals
- blocked from DAT located on nerve terminal
- blocked by reserpine
- DA and NE are no longer protected from breakdown in nerve terminal
- causes sedation in animals and depression in humans - energy provided by a proton gradient
- ATP- drive H+ pump acidified vesicles lumen
VMAT 1- found in adrenal medulla
VMAT 2- in brain
Alpha- methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT)
Depletes catecholamines by inhibiting tyrosine hydroxylase
- causes return of depressive symptoms
Reserpine
Depletes catecholamines by inhibiting vesicular uptake
- found in snake root
6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)
Damages or destroys catecholaminergic neurons
- taken up by DAT in nerve terminals - interrupts oxidative phosphorylation and kills nerve terminals
Psychostimulants […] and […] cause release of catecholamines independently of nerve terminals
Psychostimulants amphetamine and methamphetamine cause release of catecholamines independently of nerve terminals
Release of catecholamines is decreased by […]
Release of catecholamines is decreased by autoreceptor activation
- occurs when nerve impulse enters terminal vesicles to release contents into synaptic cleft through exocytosis
- located on cell bodies, terminals, and dendrites of DA and NE neurons
Dopamine D2 autoreceptors
- terminal autoreceptors (synapse activity)
- inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (reduce DA release by reducing amount of activity-mediated Ca2+ for exocytosis)
- activation of voltage-gated K+ channels (indirectly reduce Ca2+ influx by shortening duration of AP entering terminal)
- DA released by first few impulses stimulates terminal autoreceptors and reduces amount of DA released by later APs
- Autoreceptors inhibit release indirectly by reducing rate of firing of cell
- Firing pattern of neuron also influence catecholamine release
- Tonic release of DA: single-spiking mode (cell generates APs that appear at irregular intervals but with average frequency of 4-5 Hz)
- Phasic release of DA: burst mode (trains of 2-20 spikes at 20 Hz) - Both DA and NE axons form en passant synapses where fibers swell (varicosities_ along lengths filled with synaptic vesicles and represent sites of neurotransmitter release
Noradrenergic alpha2 autoreceptors
- alpha2 agonist clondine (Catapres)
- alpha2 antagonist yohimbine
- antagonist- enhance rate of release by preventing normal inhibition
- yohimbine- increase NE cell firing and NE release (can induce anxiety) - clinically important in opioid withdrawal and anxiety/ stress- related disorders
Catecholamine releases leads to […] and […] at high doses
Catecholamine releases leads to behavioral activation and stereotyped behavior at high doses
- stereotyped behavior- intense sniffing, repetitive movements and licking and biting
- comes from increasing stimulation of DA receptors from nucleus accumbens and striatum
Inactivation mechanisms are important targets of psychoactive substances
Reuptake:
- DA transporter (DAT)
- NE transporter (NET)
- Na+/MA-ATPase
Enzymatic Degradation:
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
- MAO-A: NE metabolism
- MAO-B: DA metabolism - Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT): DA metabolism
Metabolites
Breakdown products
DA metabolites:
- homovanillic acid (HVA)
- Dopac
- used as rough estimate of how much DA is used
NE metabolites:
- 3- methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG)
- vanillymandelic acid (VMA)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Increases catecholamine levels by inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO)
Amphetamine
Releases catecholamines
Cocaine and methylphenidate
Inhibit catecholamine reuptake
There are 2 primary groups of DA neurons, that give rise to 3 pathways
Substantia Nigra (A9) - nigrostriatal pathway
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) (A10)
- Mesolimbic pathway - mesocortical pathway
Substantia Nigra (A9)
- projects to the striatum
- nigrostriatal pathway- pathway from substantia nigra to dorsal striatum
- substantia nigra ascend to caudate-putamen or dorsal striatum
Ventral tegmental area, VTA (A10)
Projects to lambic structures and cortex- includes nucleus accumbens, septum, amygdala, and hippocampus
- mesolimbic pathway- has affects on prefrontal cortex
- mesocortical pathway
DA cell groups and pathways
Substantia Nigra (A9)
- Nigrostriatal
- Activation
- Motivation
- Cognition
- Facilitate voluntary movement
VTA (A10)
- Mesolimbic
- Behavioral arousal
- Reward learning - Mesocortical
- Attention
- Working memory
Hypothalamus (A12): paraventricular nucleus—> median eminence
- Tuberohypophyseal- collection of nerves in tubular part of hypothalamus
- prolactin release
Parkinson’s disease
Loss of DA neurons in substantia nigra and denervation of dorsal striatum
Al DA receptors are […]
GPCRs