Lecture 12

Question 1

What is present in the puffer fish that makes it poisonous? What effect does it have?

Answer 1

Tetrodotoxin

It slows physiological functioning to the point where you appear to be dead

Question 2

What is water intoxication?

Answer 2

Problems with the ADH diuretic hormone creates a water imbalance that causes psychosis

Question 3

How is water intoxication related to schizophrenia?

Answer 3

See lecture recording when posted for % of schizophrenics with the abnormal ADH diuretic hormone.
Hospital surveyed: 18% of deaths of schizophrenic’s under 50 caused by water intoxication

Question 4

What type of neurotransmitter is Dopamine? What % of that type of neurotransmitter does dopamine account for?
Name two other neurotransmitters that are the same type.

Answer 4

it’s a Catecholamine and accounts for 80% of the brains catecholamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrin

Question 5

Which two areas of the brain produce Dopamine? Which pathways do they project to? Where do those pathways project to?

Answer 5

1. Ventral Tegmental Area -> mesolimbic dopamine system -> frontal lobes
2. Substantia Nigra -> nigrostriatal projection -> Striatum or areas of the limbic system

Question 6

What is the theory of how dopamine relates to schizophrenia?

Answer 6

There is too much stimulation within the limbic system and not enough in the frontal lobes: Basic functioning of limbic system making demands and producing ideas that can’t be controlled by frontal lobe functioning

Question 7

How many receptors are there for Dopamine? What two classes do they fall into?
What are they called?

Answer 7

There are 5

D1 and D5 affect adenylate cyclase and is involved in cell regulation more than the other class

D2, D3 and D4 are where the anti-psychotic drugs have their binding effects

Question 8

What do you find about the receptors in the brain of a schizophrenic who has never been treated with drugs?

Answer 8

D2 x2
D3 x2
D4 x6

Question 9

What is the old line of antipsychotic drugs called? which receptor does it block?

Answer 9

phenothiazines

D2 receptor

Question 10

What are the newer antipsychotic drugs called? Which receptor do they block?

Answer 10

atypical antipsychotics

D4 receptor

Question 11

what are the precursors to Dopamine?

Answer 11

phenylalanine then tyrosine

Question 12

What is the primary reason given for deinstitutionalization?

Answer 12

The advent of phenothiazine drugs like Chlorpromazine

Question 13

What does Chlorpromazine do?

Answer 13

1. Decrease in positive symptoms

2. Produced extrapyramidal symptoms

Question 14

What are extrapyramidal symptoms?

Answer 14

Symptoms that occur when there is a lack of dopamine in the brain
Muscle disorders, the exact kind of things you would see in someone with Parkinson’s

Question 15

Why study Biochemistry?

Answer 15

1. Genetics
2. The brain functions according to Biochemistry (neurotransmitters)
3. Most disorders are treated with pharmacology which manipulates chemical systems
4. Metabolic Factors: certain chemicals can produce a toxic effect on the brain

Question 16

What is Fugu?

Answer 16

The poisonous japanese puffer fish

Question 17

How do Cocaine and Ritalin affect dopamine? Amphetamines?

Answer 17

Cocaine + Ritalin: block reuptake

Amphetamine: prevent degredation

Question 18

Which disorders are most frequently comorbid with ADHD

Answer 18

Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Conduct Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Biopolar Disorder
Anxiety Disorder
Learning Disabilities

Question 19

Give evidence of ADHD’s relation to Dopamine (give 3)

Answer 19

1. Ritalin is effective in treating ADHD (stimulant that affects dopamine)
2. Animal Models: lesion studies of dopamine projections which decrease dopamine cause ADHD like behavior in the animals
3. Imagining studies show deficits in DA rich areas of the brain

Question 20

What is oxytocin involved in?

Answer 20

1. Social Interaction
2. Pair Bonding
3. Anti-stress
4. Health promotion