CNS Transmitters Flashcards
What are the two main types of inotropic glutamate receptors?
NMDA and non-NMDA
NMDA stands for n-methyl D-aspartic acid; non-NMDA includes a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isooxasole propionic acid.
What is NMDA associated with?
Long term potentiation (LTP) of postsynaptic response to presynaptic stimulus.
What brain processes are excitatory amino acids (EAA) involved in?
Learning, memory, thinking.
What can very high concentrations of glutamine cause?
Neuronal cell death (excitotoxicity).
What is an example of a medication that blocks neurotransmitter reception?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
What is an example of a medication that blocks neurotransmitter release?
Lithium.
Name the neurotransmitters associated with the following: Ach, Noradrenaline, Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine.
Ach, Noradrenaline, Glutamate, GABA, Dopamine
These neurotransmitters are linked to various disease conditions.
Define neurotransmission.
The process by which signaling molecules (neurotransmitters) are released by the neuron.
List the criteria for a substance to be considered a neurotransmitter.
- Must be present in the neuron vesicle
- Must be released from presynaptic nerve terminal
- Enzymatic mechanisms for synthesizing and degrading the substance should be present within the neuron
- Local concentration of the substance must activate its own receptors
- Blocking agents should produce demonstrable effects.
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) effects on the eye?
i. Eye effects: Pupil dilation (sympathetic), pupil constriction (parasympathetic).
What is GABA and its role in the brain?
Major inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain.
What are the two types of GABA receptors?
GABA A (ligand-gated ion channels) and GABA B (G protein-coupled receptors).
What is the function of GABA B receptors?
Activates drug baclofen, a skeletal muscle relaxant.
What are neurotransmitters classified by chemical structure?
- Amines: Ach, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, histamine
- Amino acids: Glutamate, aspartic acid, GABA, glycine
- Peptides: Substance P, oxytocin, endorphins, cholecystokinin.
True or False: GABA and glycine are inhibitory neurotransmitters.
True.
What is neuromodulation?
Alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus or chemical agents.
What are examples of neuromodulators?
Adenosine, prostaglandins, nitric oxide.
What medication blocks the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine?
Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine.
What is the therapeutic significance of neurotransmitters?
They play a critical role in treating health conditions through medications that influence these chemical messengers.
What is the role of presynaptic receptors?
They influence the release of neurotransmitters and are important as potential therapeutic targets.
What is the primary function of dopamine as a neurotransmitter?
Primarily inhibitory; its deficiency causes extrapyramidal disturbances.
List the five types of dopamine receptors.
D1, D2, D3, D4, D5.
What is acetylcholine known for?
First neurotransmitter discovered and most abundant at autonomic ganglia.
Fill in the blank: GABA is composed of GABA A and _______.
GABA B.
Describe the synthesis of acetylcholine.
Glucose enters nerve terminals, glycolysis occurs, pyruvic acid generates choline, and acetyl coenzyme-A is formed.
What are autoreceptors?
Receptors present on the surface of a nerve cell that respond to neurotransmitters released from the same cell.
What is the process of neuromediation?
Elicitation of the postsynaptic response to release neurotransmitter through secondary response.
What is neurosecretion?
The synthesis, storage, and release of hormones from neurons.
