Lec 15: Hormones & Brain Function Flashcards
what are the 2 types of communication that occurs in neurons?
electrical
chemical
what is electrical communication of neurons?
WITHIN the neurons
transmission along the axon
what is chemical communication of neurons?
BETWEEN neurons
transmission at the synapse
list 6 components of the definition of a NT
1) exists in presynaptic axon terminals
2) presynaptic cells contains enzymes for synthesizing substance
3) substance is released when AP reach terminals
4) specific rec recognise the substance
5) application of the substance produces changes in postsynaptic potential
6) blocking release of the substance prevents nerve impulses
2 types of receptors for ACh and are they metabotropic/ionotrophic?
1) muscarinic = metabotropic
2) nicotinic (ionotrophic)
- muscle contraction
- cholinergic transmission in cortex
what are the DA receptors?? are they metabotropic/ionotrophic?
D1-D5 = metabotropic
- complex behaviours, motor function, reward, higher cognition
name the NE receptors
are they metabotropic/ionotrophic?
a1, a2, b1, b2= metabotropic
- visceral organs
- sympathetic NS, fight or flight
what are the 5-HT receptors?
are they metabotropic/ionotrophic?
5-HT1, 2, 3
- all but one subtype of 5-HT3 = metabotropic
- mood, sleep, higher cognition
are GABA receptors ionotropic or metabotropic??
GABA-A and GABA-C= ionotropic
GABA-B= metabotropic
what are the glutamate receptors?
are they metabotropic/ionotropic?
AMPA, kainate, NMDA= ionotropic
mGluR= metabotropic
ionotrophic VS metabotropic
IONotropic= allow different kinds of ions to travel in and out of the cell.
metabotropic= do not have a “channel” that opens or closes. Linked to another small chemical called a “G-protein.”
glutamatergic transmission uses which 3 receptors???
AMPA
Kainate
NMDA
(all ionotropic)
name 2 inhibitory transmitters in the brain
GABA
glycine
name the 3 classes and characteristics of GABA receptors
GABA-A= ionotropic, produce fast inhibitory effects via Cl channel
GABA-B= metabotropic, slow inhibiting effects through neurogliaform interneurons
GABA-C= ionotropic with Cl channel
how do GABA agonists work?
- potent tranquillizers
- allow influx of Cl, hyper-polarization and inhibitory effects
how does alcohol work in relation to GABA rec
at GABA-A receptors
- ionotropic
- fast inhibitory effects
what is the cause of drug abuse?
how to reduce?
rebellion, money, boredom, experimentation, thrill-seeking, desperation, self-medication
- education, coercion, punishment, environmental change, maturation, pressure to strop, life events
what is the cause of drug dependence?
how to reduce
genetics, brain chemistry sensitivity, input from the environment
- treatment to positively affect abnormal brain function to reduce need for drug
name 4 effects of alcohol on the brain
- effect is biphasic (initial stimulant phase followed by more prolonged depressant phase)
- activated GABA-A rec (coupled to chloride channel, inc post synaptic inhibition, hyperpolarization)
- chronic abuse damages nerve cells, and frontal lobes
- binge= brain damage
FASD
fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
- distinctive changes in facial features, stunted growth, intellectual disability, irritability, tremors, hyperactivity
- neural crest cells affected by alcohol, failure of closing
- fewer cerebral cortices, sometimes absence corpus callosum
- thickening of cortical mass, small brain
explain what happens to migration of neurons due to alcohol
- slow movement to the right place
- migrating neurons are immature, lacking dendrites, with only a soma and immature axon at this point (in neocortex)
- undifferentiated at the start of migration
- differentiation begins as neurons migrate
- they develop NT making ability (AP)
what are neuroepithelial cells?
neural stem cells
neuroepithelial cells of the ventricular zone do what??
give rise to radial glial cells that further differentiate into neurons or glial cells
what do radial glial cells do?
act as guide wires for migration of neurons
what are 3 characteristics of migrating neurons?
immature
only soma
immature axon
what is aggregation?
cells that are done migrating align themselves with other cells and form structures
what is aggregation?
cells that are done migrating align themselves with other cells and form structures
how many layers of the cortex?
6
which type of cells are the largest in the cortex?
pyramidal cells
what are the 2 types of ACh receptors?
nicotinic
muscarinic