Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Question 1

What is synaptic inhibition?

Answer 1

Lecture 4, slide 2

-it decreases the probability that there will be an action potential in the post synaptic neuron

Question 2

Discuss how the equilibrium potentials of ions is related to the membrane potential during action potentials

Answer 2

Lecture 4, slide 2.5.-3

Question 3

How is synaptic inhibition normally recruited? What are the different types of synaptic inhibition circuits?

Answer 3

Lecture 4, slide 3.5.-4

Question 4

What happens when there is excitation without matched inhibition?

Answer 4

Lecture 4, slide 4.5

Question 5

What type of synapses are inhibitory synapses?

Answer 5

Lecture 4, slide 5.5

Question 6

Give examples of receptors mediating excitation and receptors mediating inhibition.

Answer 6

Lecture 4, slide 6

Question 7

What are the main inhibitory neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

Lecture 4, slide 6.5

Question 8

Discuss the structure of GABA-A receptors

Answer 8

Lecture 4, slide 7

Question 9

What is the role of the GABA-A receptors?

Answer 9

Lecture 4, slide 7.5

Question 10

How is the GABA-A receptor driving force established? Compare the chloride equilibrium potential in normal mature neurons compared to developing or hyperactive neurons.

Answer 10

Lecture 4, slide 8-8.5

Question 11

What is postsynaptic shunting inhibition?

Answer 11

Lecture 4, slide 9-10.5

Question 12

What are the two mechanism of postsynaptic inhibition via GABA-A receptors?

Answer 12

Lecture 4, slide 11

Question 13

How are GABA-A receptors localised?

Answer 13

Lecture 4, slide 11.5

Question 14

Discuss phasic and tonic GABAergic inhibition.

Answer 14

Lecture 4, slide 12-12.5

• phasic can be spontaneous or evoked. Either way it is transient
• tonic is background activity

Question 15

What is the role of GABA-B receptors in phasic inhibition?

Answer 15

Lecture 4, slide 13-14

Question 16

What effects do GABA-B receptors have on cation channels?

Answer 16

Lecture 4, slide 14.5-15.5

Question 17

What are the different classes of GABA releasing interneuron? What do they target and what type of inhibition are they involved in?

Answer 17

Lecture 4, slide 16.5-17

Question 18

What are the differences between the function of somatic and dendritic inhibition?

Answer 18

Lecture 4, slide 17.5

Question 19

Give entrainment as an example of a specialised function of GABA-releasing neurons.

Answer 19

Lecture 4, slide 18

Question 20

Discuss the pharmacological modification of GABA-A receptors (agonists, antagonists and modulators). Give examples

Answer 20

Lecture 4, slide 19.5

Question 21

How can the lifetime of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft be pharmacologically targeted?

Answer 21

Lecture 4, slide 20

-by targeting GABA transporters

Question 22

What does pharmacological blockade of GABA uptake cause?

Answer 22

Lecture 4, slide 20.5

Question 23

How can we modulate GABA release from specific interneurons? Give examples.

Answer 23

Lecture 4, slide 21

Question 24

Give examples of some commercial drugs that target the GABAergic system. What type of drug are they, what is their function and what are they used to treat?

Answer 24

Lecture 4, slide 21.5

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