Common NeuroTransmitters

Question 1

What are the types of neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

Amino Acids, Small Amine Molecules, Neuropeptides, Gases (e.g. Nitrous Oxide)

Question 2

How do chemicals and drugs affect the nervous system?

Answer 2

They act on neuromessenger receptors.

Question 3

What are Agonists?

Answer 3

Agonists bind to a receptor and mimic the effect of the natural neuromessenger.

Question 4

What are Antagonists?

Answer 4

Antagonists prevent the release of neuromessenger or bind to the receptor and block its effect.

Question 5

What is Acetylcholine (ACh) in the PNS?

Answer 5

ACh is an excitatory neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle contraction and slowing heart rate( slow acting, g protein)

Question 6

What is the role of Acetylcholine in the CNS?

Answer 6

ACh acts on development, learning, memory, selective attention, and movement control (influences the basal ganglia)

G protein linked receptor activity

Question 7

Where is Acetylcholine produced in the brain stem?

Answer 7

In the pedunculopontine nucleus.

Question 8

What happens to ACh receptors in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 8

The population of neurons expressing ACh receptors are some of the first to be depleted.

Question 9

How is Acetylcholine manufactured?

Answer 9

ACh is manufactured in the presynaptic terminal by the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) on choline and acetyl CoA.

Question 10

How is Acetylcholine broken down?

Answer 10

ACh is broken down to choline and acetic acid by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in the synaptic cleft.

Question 11

What are ACh Agonists?

Answer 11

Nicotine (acts on the direct ion channel receptor) and Muscarine (acts on the indirect G-protein linked receptor).

Question 12

What are ACh Antagonists?

Answer 12

Curare, BOTOX (botulinum toxin), Atropine.

Question 13

What are the two excitatory amino acids?

Answer 13

gutamate and aspartate

Question 14

What is Glutamate?

Answer 14

Glutamate binds to NMDA and AMPA receptors involved in long-term potentiation; essential for development, learning, and memory.

Question 15

what are the agonist of glutamate?

Answer 15

none in clinical use

Question 16

What is an antagonist of Glutamate?

Answer 16

Phencyclidine (angel dust) blocks ion flow and is associated with acute anxiety, paranoia, and psychoses.

Question 17

What are the effects of excess Glutamate?

Answer 17

Excess Glutamate may be toxic to neurons and is associated with seizures, chronic pain syndromes, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia.

Question 18

What is GABA?

Answer 18

GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, formed from the breakdown of glutamate.

Question 19

What are GABA Agonists?

Answer 19

Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium), barbiturates, and Baclofen.

Question 20

What are GABA Antagonists?

Answer 20

None in current clinical use.

Question 21

What are the two subtypes of GABA receptors?

Answer 21

-GABAa receptors act as Cl- channels that hyperpolarize the postsynaptic membrane

-GABAb receptors open K+ channels through G-protein activity.

Question 22

What is Glycine?

Answer 22

Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found mainly in the brainstem and spinal cord.

Question 23

What are glycine agonists?

Answer 23

none in current clinical use

Question 24

What are the two inhibitory amine acids?

Answer 24

GABA and Glycine

Question 25

What are Glycine Antagonists?

Answer 25

Strychnine, which blocks glycine-gated Cl- channels, resulting in convulsions.

Question 26

What are Amines?

Answer 26

Amines are a class of neurotransmitters that are chemically related and derived from tyrosine. most act as g protein linked receptors

Question 27

What are cathecholamines?

Answer 27

contain the cathechol group

Question 28

What is Serotonin?

Answer 28

Serotonin affects arousal level, mood, and pain perception, usually inhibitory.

Question 29

What are the effects of low and high levels of Serotonin?

Answer 29

-Low levels during REM sleep -too little:can lead to depression -high levels are associated with alertness. (normal) -excessive levels:mania

Question 30

What is seratonin derived from?

Answer 30

tryptophan

Question 31

what are the seratonin antagonists?

Answer 31

none in clinical use

Question 32

What are Serotonin Agonists?

Answer 32

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Prozac (fluoxetine).

Question 33

Where is Serotonin produced?

Answer 33

In the Raphe Nuclei.

Question 34

What is Dopamine?

Answer 34

Dopamine affects motor activity, cognition, and behavior, usually inhibitory. part of the reward system

Question 35

What are the effects of Dopamine levels?

Answer 35

-Too little Dopamine can lead to Parkinson’s disease. -imbalances may contribute to schizophrenia

Question 36

What are dopamine antagonists?

Answer 36

anti psychotic drugs

Question 37

what is L-DOPA?

Answer 37

crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted to dopamine for Parkinson’s therapy.

Question 38

What are Dopamine Agonists?

Answer 38

Cocaine, amphetamines, and L-DOPA. these interfere with dopamine reuptake; making it available to continue acting on its receptor.

Question 39

Where are most Dopamine-producing neurons located?

Answer 39

In the midbrain, specifically the Ventral tegmental area (VTA) and Substantia nigra.

Question 40

Ventral tegmental (VTA)?

Answer 40

- VTA provides dopamine to parts of cerebrum involved in decision making, motivation (e.g. medial prefrontal cortex) - Activation of VTA affects the ventral striatum, producing feelings of pleasure and reward.

Question 41

What is Norepinephrine?

Answer 41

Norepinephrine affects attention to surroundings and vigilance, usually inhibitory.

Question 42

What does Norepinephrine do in PNS?

Answer 42

released from neurons in autonomic nervous system; Part of “fight-fright-flight” reaction.

Question 43

What does Norepinephrine do in CNS?

Answer 43

released from neurons in brainstem, hypothalamus, thalamus -Too much: hyper-vigilance, panic attacks, PTSD -Lowest levels during sleep

Question 44

What are Norepinephrine Agonists?

Answer 44

Cocaine and amphetamines.

Question 45

What are Norepinephrine Antagonists?

Answer 45

Propranolol, which acts on Beta 2 receptors found in heart muscle.

Question 46

What are the subtypes of norepinephrine?

Answer 46

- alpha Receptors are found in smooth muscle of arterioles-activation leads to vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure - Beta 1 receptors are found in heart muscle- activation leads to increased heart rate and blood pressure - Beta 2 receptors are found in bronchial smooth muscle-activation constricts bronchioles

Question 47

Where is Norepinephrine produced?

Answer 47

In the Locus Coeruleus, also known as the 'blue spot'.

Question 48

What are Peptide Neuromessengers?

Answer 48

They are neuromodulators and neurotransmitters involved in pain perception and suppression.

Question 49

What are Opioids?

Answer 49

Opioids include Endorphins, Enkephalins, and Dynorphins.

Question 50

What are the two types of peptide neuromessengers?

Answer 50

opioids and substance P

Question 51

Three types of Opioids?

Answer 51

– Endorphins – Enkephalins – Dynorphins

Question 52

What are Opioid Agonists?

Answer 52

Morphine, heroin, and oxycodone (oxy bind to receptor sites for endogenous opioids; also bind to sites of dopamine release in brainstem-activation of reward circuits in addiction)

Question 53

What are Opioid Antagonists?

Answer 53

Naloxone.

Question 54

What is Substance P?

Answer 54

mediates pain signals.

Question 55

Does Substance P have agonists or antagonists

Answer 55

has neither agonists or antagonists

Question 56

How are peptide neurotransmitters manufactured?

Answer 56

They are manufactured and packaged in the cell body, requiring significant activity of the neuron.

Question 57

How are amino acids and amine manufactured ?

Answer 57

may be locally manufactured in the cytosol of the presynaptic terminal, then packaged into synaptic vesicles for storage

Question 58

Compare and Contrast Anime

Answer 58