Introduction to pharmacology: L15

Question 1

Neuron

1. at rest
2. AP triggered when
3. dendrites are?
4. soma is?

Answer 1

1. negative charge -70
2. charge becomes sufficiently positive
3. “tree” structures which receive signals from other neurons
4. body of the cell

Question 2

1. How many neurons in the brain?

2. How many synapses in the cortex?

Answer 2

1. 100 billion

2. 0.15 quadrillion

Question 3

1. How are messages between neurons transferred

2. cell membrane has 2 layers which means

Answer 3

1. only through neurotransmitters

2. fatty inside layer, fluids and other chemicals like neurotransmitters cannot pass through

Question 4

Receptors

1. allow
2. 2 types of receptors

Answer 4

1. the released neurotransmitter to influence the post-synaptic nerve by ‘locking on’ to a receptor
2. ion channels and G-protein coupled

Question 5

Ion channels

1. act like
2. when a neurotransmitter binds to the receptor
3. channels are normally
4. Overall, Ion channels are

Answer 5

1. a gate
2. causes the gate to open and ions (positive and negatively charged molecules) can flow through
3. selective and only allow one or a few types of ions to pass through when open (i.e. calcium ion channel)
4. high speed, selective and direct action

Question 6

G protein-coupled receptor

1. work through
2. when the neurotransmitter binds to the receptor
3. this causes either…
4. There are…(outcomes)
5. this process is

Answer 6

1. second messengers
2. activates a second messenger system
3. the channel to open or other things to change within the cell (e.g. DNA being transcribed or new protein being made)
4. a huge array of possible outcomes
5. very select sequence of events

Question 7

Receptor specificity

1. each receptor can generally only
2. each receptor has a very
3. when a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor this will trigger the same
4. what happens to neurotransmitters so they can open a channel

Answer 7

1. be activated by one neurotransmitter (or a drug designed to mimic neurotransmitter)
2. specific function
3. event every time (either opening channel or triggering a second messenger event)
4. small change in their shape

Question 8

1. Neurotransmission definition

2. neuromodulation definition

Answer 8

1. chemical substance released from a neuron at a synapse (specialised junction) which diffuses into the narrow cleft to affect one or two postsynaptic neurons, a muscle cell or effector cell
2. chemical substance released from a neuron in the CNS or PNS that affects groups of neurons or effector cells. Often acts through second messengers and can produce long-lasting effects

Question 9

1. Neurotransmission is either…

2. Neuromodulation describes

Answer 9

1. excitatory or inhibitory and serves rapid (ms), precise, point to point communication
   - excitatory = long projection neurons
   - inhibitory = short local neurons (dense web around excitatory neurons)
2. slower (ms-s) processes that alter the subsequent responsiveness of neurons

-> “neurotransmitter” broadly encompasses both

Question 10

1. excitatory
2. inhibitory
3. modulatory

Answer 10

1. Glutamate
2. GABA
3. serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline etc

Question 11

Neuromodulation

1. define
2. presynaptic
3. postsynaptic
4. neuromodulation may cause

Answer 11

1. alternation of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus (e.g. serotonin)
2. alters neurotransmitter release
3. alters neurotransmitter action (excitability/firing pattern)
4. changes in neural function or structure (e.g. sustained neuromodular activity can drive changes in the brain related to synaptic plasticity)

Question 12

Cycle of neurotransmitters 1-7

Answer 12

1. synthesis
2. release from synaptic vesicles
3. binds to receptors
4. influence on post synaptic neuron
5. broken down by enzymes
   (or)
6. reuptake of transmitter
7. formation and storage in synaptic vesicles

Question 13

Psychopharmacology defintion

Answer 13

1. study of drug induce changes in mood sensation, thinking and behaving

Question 14

Drug action at the receptor

1. drugs act by
2. Can act as either

Answer 14

1. mimicking the neurotransmitters or neuromodulators
2. Agonists = activating receptor
   Antagonists = blocking the receptor, preventing activation

Question 15

synthesis interruption:

Neurotransmitter function can be altered by

Answer 15

increasing or decreasing synthesis of the neurotransmitter

Question 16

Neurotransmitters

1. synthesis and transport to the synapse is
2. BUT the neurotransmitter action

Answer 16

1. relatively slow

2. is very fast because it sits ready for release (only a fraction slower than an electrical signal)

Question 17

Non traditional neurotransmitters (4)

Answer 17

1. peptides
2. nucleosides
3. lipids
4. gases

Question 18

criteria for a traditional neurotransmitter (3)

Answer 18

1. present in presynaptic terminals
2. released from presynaptic terminal after neuron fires
3. existence of receptors on postsynaptic neurons

Question 19

Hormones

1. signalling molecules produced by

Answer 19

1. glands (e.g. pineal, pituitary, thyroid, ovary) and transported through the body to regulate phsiology (muscles, neurons) and behaviour

Question 20

1. pharmacology can effect psychology

2. psychology can also effect pharmacology

Answer 20

1. natural neurotransmitters and artificial drugs can effect mood, cognitive & behaviour
2. emotional or stressful events, thoughts and behaviour effect us because they influence our neurotransmitters