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Psychobiology > Intro to neurochemistry > Flashcards

Intro to neurochemistry Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three primary criteria of a neurotransmitter?

A

The substance must be present within the presynaptic neuron
The substance must be released in response to presynaptic depolarization, and the release must be Ca2+ dependent
Specific receptors for the substance must be present on the postsynaptic cell

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2
Q

What are neuromodulators?

A

Neuromodulators are chemicals released by the neurons that travel farther and are dispersed more widely than neurotransmitters.

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3
Q

When does neuromodulation happen?

A

It occurs when a neurotransmitter is not returned to the presynaptic cell. Instead, it travels to modulate the activity of other cells.

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4
Q

What are the types of neurotransmitters?

A

Amino acid, cholinergic, monoamine, and peptide neurotransmitters.

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5
Q

What are the two major types of amino acid neurotransmitters?

A

Glautamate and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

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6
Q

What is glutamate?

A

An amino acid neurotransmitter. The primary excitaroy neurotransmitter

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7
Q

What is GABA?

A

An amino acid neurotransmitter.The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter

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8
Q

Around how much % of synapses utilise glutamate?

A

~50%

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9
Q

What are the receptors for glutamate?

A

3 ionotropic receptor types. AMPA (Na+), Kainate (Na+), and NMDA (Ca2+ and Na+)
Multiple metabotropic receptors

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10
Q

Which glutamate receptor/s is/are responsible for initiating EPSPs?

A

AMPA and kainate

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11
Q

Which glutamate receptor/s is/are responsible for neuroplasticity and learning?

A

NMDA

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12
Q

What is glutamate involved in?

A

Long term potentiation (LTP).

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13
Q

What is Hebb’s Law?

A

Cells that send information are more likely to send and receive information together in the future

Cells which are activated simultaneously form stronger connections, and this is the basis for learning

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14
Q

What do glutamate-driven LTP involve?

A

AMPA receptors generating EPSPs.

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15
Q

What is GABA produced from?

A

From glutamate

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16
Q

How much % of synapses utilise GABA?

A

~25-40% are GABAergic

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17
Q

What are the two types of GABA receptors?

A

GABA-A receptor which is ionotropic and has multiple binding sides; binding to these can open ion channel. Is inhibitory.
GABA-B which is metabotropic.

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18
Q

Describe the GABA-A receptor?

A

Ionotropic
Has multiple binding sides; binding to these can open ion channel
Is inhibitory (initiates IPSPs)
Cl- can travel through these receptors

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19
Q

Describe the GABA-B receptor?

A

Metabotropic

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20
Q

What are metabotropic receptors also known as?

A

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

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21
Q

What did early anti-seizure medications do?

A

Reduced neuronal firing by potentiating the effects of GABA, (increasing the effect of GABA to inhibit firing)

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22
Q

Describe how ligand-gated ion channels work?

A

 Neurotransmitter binds
 Ion channel opens
 Rapid effect
 Generates EPSPs and IPSPs

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23
Q

Describe how GPCRs work?

A

 Neurotransmitter binds
 Activates a “G-protein”
 G-protein may open an ion channel

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24
Q

What are the key characteristics of GPCRs?

A

They are intracellular messengers - may activate enzyme cascade
They are slower acting but longer lasting

25
Q

Where are cholinergic neurotransmitters found?

A

They are the transmission system for the somatic nervous system
Also a major component of the autonomic nervous system

26
Q

What kind of acetylcholine receptors are there?

A

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which are ionotropic

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors which are metabotropic

27
Q

What is the cholinergic system important for?

A

Within the forebrain, the cholinergic system is associated with cognitive function
4/5 approved medications for the side effects of Alzheimer’s disease act on the cholinergic system

28
Q

How do most Alzheimers’ medication work?

A

4/5 approved medications for the side effects of Alzheimer’s disease act on the cholinergic system.
They work by preventing acetylcholine being broken down, but only treat the effect not the cause

29
Q

What is the effect of chronic exposure of nicotine on acetylcholine receptors?

A

Chronic exposure to nicotine downregulates the number of nicotinic receptors. This negatively impacts upon reaction time, as in the CNS, acetylcholine reacts at nicotinic receptors to improve reaction time.

30
Q

What are the types of monoamine neurotransmitters?

A 
Catecholamine neurotransmitters
- Dopamine
- Epinephrine/norepinephrine
Serotonin (5-HT)
Histamine
31
Q

What system is acetylcholine a major component of?

A

The somatic nervous system.

32
Q

What are the two dopamine pathways?

A

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) to frontal lobe

Substantia nigra to striatum

33
Q

What are the dopamine receptors?

A

D1-D5, all metabotropic (GPCRs)

34
Q

What is dopamine primarily important for?

A

Its role in reward and movement.

35
Q

VTA neurons projecting to frontal lobe is _____

A

Reward pathway

36
Q

Substantia nigra projecting to striatum is _______

A

Movement pathway

37
Q

What did the Olds and MIlner 1953 study involve?

A

After rats received electrical stimulation to the medial forebrain bundle, they prefer the part of the cage where they received this
- In further work, they would quickly learn to press a lever to obtain this stimulation
The desire so great animal would withstand starvation
Later work established that stimulation to this region leads to dopamine release

38
Q

What is Parkinson’s disease caused by?

A

It is a movement-related disorder caused by the destruction of the dopamine producing cells of the substantia nigra

39
Q

What wan an initial treatment of L-DOPA?

A

L-DOPA

Precursor to dopamine, can get into brain, was not a truly successful treatment and with time more of the cells died

40
Q

What is epinephrine/norepinephrine?

A

They are a type of catecholamine (monoamine) neurotransmitter

41
Q

What are the nor/epinephrine receptors?

A

alpha (1-3), beta (1-3)

All GPCRs

42
Q

What is norepinephrine responsible for?

A

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
Stress hormone in fight or flight
Within CNS - for vigilant concentration

43
Q

What is serotonin?

A

A type of monoamine neurotransmitter

44
Q

What are the receptors for serotonin?

A

5-HT 1A-B, D-F
5HT 2A-C
5HT down to C

45
Q

What types of receptors are serotonin receptors?

A

All metabotropic except for 5HT3

46
Q

What is serotonin involved in?

A 
Mood disorders (MDD)
- Most pharmacological treatments target this system
Appetite
Sleep
Cognitive function
47
Q

What is histamine?

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter.

48
Q

What is histamine responsible for

A

For the allergic responses

Important for sleep-wake cycle

49
Q

What are receptors for histamine?

A

H1-4 regulates histamine signalling

50
Q

What types of receptors are histamine receptors?

A

Metabotropic

51
Q

Describe the role of histamine in sleep wake cycle?

A

Histamine neurons continuously fire during waking hours
Activity drops to 75% during slow wave sleep
Stops during REM sleep

52
Q

What are types of neuropeptides?

A

There are a lot. E.g. endorphins, oxytocin, neuropeptide Y

53
Q

What are endorphins?

A

Endogenous morphine - morphine acts on receptors already in place for the endorphin system
There are alpha, beta and gamma

54
Q

What types of receptors are endorphins receptors?

A

GPCRs (metabotropic)

55
Q

What are functions of endorphins?

A

Block pain

Induce pleasure

56
Q

Where are endorphins primarily located?

A

Within the autonomic nervous system
Released from the pituitary to inhibit pain signaling
In the somatic nervous inhibiting sensory pain signaling
Also involved in centres within brain to mediate subjective pleasure (euphoria)

57
Q

What is oxytocin important for?

A

Social and maternal bonding, the ‘love hormone’

In the vole oxytocin is linked to the dopamine reward system

58
Q

What is neuropeptide Y important for?

A

It drives appetite. Elevated NPY leads to an obese phenotype.
Genetically removing NPY receptors prevents diet-induced obesity

Psychobiology (6 decks)

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