CNS I Flashcards
What are the 3 criteria that must be satisfied for a molecule to be classified as a NT?
present at presynaptic nerve terminal, released upon stimulation of presynaptic nerve terminal, activate receptors on postsynaptic membrane
What are the 6 steps in neurochemical transmission?
1) transport and synthesis
2) storage (synaptic vesicles)
3) NT release
4) postsynaptic receptor activation
5) reuptake of NT
6) degradation of NT
Will an IPSP occur at rest?
NO, because the cell membrane potential is already at equilibrium
direct/indirect receptor types for glutamate, gaba, glycine receptors
Glutamate: Ionotropic/Metabotropic
GABA: GABA-A/GABA-B
Glycine: all are direct
At what 3 steps does G-Protein Coupled Receptor signal amplification occur? What is significant about these steps?
1) Receptor/G-Protein binding
2) 2nd messenger production (adenyl cyclase/cAMP step)
3) protein kinase phosphorylation of target proteins
Important b/c all steps can be important therapeutic targets
What are the direct receptor types and the indirect receptor types?
Direct: ligand-gated ion channels
Indirect: G-protein coupled receptors
direct/indirect receptor types for dopamine, NE, Epinephrine, Serotonin, Histamine
all are indirect! except Seratonin has a direct receptor: 5HT3
What is tachyphylaxis?
acute (sudden) decrease in response to drug after its administration maybe due to receptor uncoupling
What is coactivation? potentiation?
NT needs a second agonist in order to activate. Potentiation is where compounds increase response to agonist by binding to an allosteric site on the receptor
Why does one get long term downregulation or upregulation?
It’s due to decrease (or increase) in receptor number, NOT acute uncoupling. It can occur w/prolonged administration of an agonist (downregulation) or an antagonist (upregulation)
What are the neuronal origins and projections of cholinergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: widespread, nucleus basalis of Meynert, medial septal nucleus, brain stem nuclei
Projections: widespread, cortex, hippocampus, thalamus
What are the functions of cholinergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: mostly excitatory CNS, involved in cognition
Neuropharm: dementia (Alzheimers)
What are the neuronal origins and projections of glutaminergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: thalamus, subthalamic nucleus
Projections: widespread, cortex, hippocampus
What are the functions of glutaminergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: major excitatory CNS NT, involved in learning/memory (long term potentiation)
Neuropharm: epilepsy, excitotoxicity
What are the neuronal origins and projections of GABAergic/Glycine neurotransmitters?
Origins: widespread, interneurons
Projections: widespread, cortex, neostriatum
What are the functions of GABAergic/Glycine NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: major inhibitory CNS NT
Neuropharm: sedative hypnotics, antianxiety (anxiolytics), anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants
What are the neuronal origins and projections of noradrenergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: locus coeruleus
Projections: widespread
What are the functions of noradrenergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: emotion (mood), arousal, fear, stress, anxiety
Neuropharm: antidepressants (MAOIs), attentiveness (ADHD), wakefulness (narcolepsy and amphetamines)
What are the neuronal origins and projections of dopaminergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: substantia nigra
Projections: basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, limbic system
What are the functions of dopaminergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: voluntary movement, behavior, neuroendocrine secretion
Neuropharm: parkinson’s, psychosis, hyperprolactinemia (pituitary adenoma)
What are the neuronal origins and projections of serotonergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: raphe nuclei
Projections: widespread
What are the functions of serotonergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: emotion (mood), sleep
Neuropharm: antidepressants (TCAs, SSRIs), hallucinations (LSD, ecstacy (MDMA)), antiemetic
What are the neuronal origins and projections of histaminergic neurotransmitters?
Origins: tuberomammillary nucleus (ventral posterior hypothalamus)
Projections: widespread, cortex, hippocampus, neostriatum, limbic system
What are the functions of histaminergic NTs and neuropharmacology associated with them?
Functions: wakefulness, motion
Neuropharm: sedation, cold and allergy symptoms, motion sickness
What are the effects of Serotonin Syndrome?
agitation/restlessness, diarrhea, fast HR, changes in BP, hallucinations, confusion, hypomania, fever, ataxia, hyperreflexia, shivering, excessive sweating, tremor, nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms (myoclonus)
What are the side effects to taking anticholinergics?
dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin/flushing, blurred vision, constipation, increased HR, difficulty emptying bladder, headache, confusion, exacerbation of glaucoma
