Lecture 13-15 Flashcards
Serotonin synthesis pathway (3)
- Obatin L-trptophan from diet (body doesnt make it)
- Trptophan hydroxylase (Tph2/TPH1) converts to 5-HTP. This is the rate limiting step.
- Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase then convert to 5-HT which is serotonin. This process is rapid and efficient.
Betty Twarog
Found serotonine in brain
Talk about TPH (2)
- TPH2: Marker for serotonin neurons in the brain. Only found in serotonergic neurons.
- TPH1: Isoform in peripheral tissues, outside of brain in gut and pineal gut.
Tryptophan entry for 5-HT synthesis (3):
- Tryptophan is essential amino acid- can not be synthesized.
- Dietary factors can modify tryptophan uptake in the brain and the rate of serotonin formation. Increase of protein rich diet can cause more serotonin as Trp can cross BBB but serotonin cannot.
- The rate of 5-HT synthesis is dependent on Trp to large neutral AA ratio. In blood, Trp competes for carrier protein across BBB with other AA. Avaliability of Trp in brain depends on ratio of the large AA, if it can’t enter brain, serotonin synthesis is affected.
What happens if rate are fed carb rich meal?
Serotonin?
The ratio of Trp to large AA will be eleated, more entry of TRP into brain and more serotonin is made.
Para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (4)
What + % + duration + humans?
- Drug that inhibits TPH (serotonine synthesis drug)
- Serotonine levels in the brain decrease 80-90%
- Goes on for couple of weeks
- Lots of side effect so not used for humans
Large neutral AA cocktail (2)
What + duration
- inhibition of TRP entry into brain so reduced 5-HT synthesis
- 6-12 hours
Acute TRP depletion (2)
How to achieve + what happens
- Administer cocktail with no TRP/ Free of TRP diet
- serotonine will be synthesized less
SSRI (2)
what + SERT
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, boost serotonin activity in the brain by letting be in synapse longer
- Blocks SERT causing more serotonin in cell
Transport of 5-HT into synaptic vesicles:
VMAT2
Reserpine —– 5-HT
depletes
Blocks VMAT 2, serotonine cannot go in vesicles and get degraded
5-HT autoreceptors
How do they work?
- Once serotonine is released it will bind to autoreceptors found on the presynaptic neuron and act as negative feedback.
- Control serotonin release
PCA, Fenfluramine, MDMA (2)
what + derivative
- Interact with VMAT2 and release serotonine by exocitosis
- Amphetamine derivative
Serotonine reuptake is by
5-HT transporter (5-HTT/SERT)
Take serotonine in the synapse
Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Citalopram (2)
What they are + same/diff
- Same mechanism of action but are chemically differently (half life, interaction with drugs, metabolism)
- All are SSRI examples
Mice that lacks serotonin transporters (SERT) in life:
enhanced + result of experiment
- Enahnced anxiety and depressed like behaviour and increase stress susceptability
- In WT/healthy control mice, when you apply serotonin in prefrontal neuron, you see an inhibitory current.
- In mice that lack SERT, the current was much more enhanced and had larger inhibitory response with serotonin.
Normally, serotonin exerts an inhibitory effect on certain neurons in the PFC, likely by acting on inhibitory receptors like 5-HT1A or facilitating GABAergic interneurons. In wild-type (WT) or healthy control mice, this inhibitory response is present but balanced due to the reuptake of serotonin by SERT, which limits how long serotonin stays in the synaptic cleft. In mice lacking SERT, serotonin is not efficiently removed from the synapse. As a result, serotonin stays longer and can activate inhibitory receptors more intensely or for a longer duration. This leads to a larger inhibitory response than in WT mice. In other words, the absence of SERT amplifies the effects of serotonin by increasing its availability.
5-HT metabolism (3)
what + forms + measure
- Monoamine oxidase- A (MAO-A) catalyzes 5-HT
- Forms metabolite: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and it enters CSF.
- Can be used as a measure of 5-HT. More serotonin= more metabolite in CSF (5-HIAA)
5-HT neurons are located in brainstem:
- Dorsal Raphe Nucleus (B6, B7)
- Median Raphe nucleus (B5, B8)
In the brain stem
5-HT receptors (4)
subtypes + type + 2 examples (A)
- 17 subtypes
- All the receptors are metabotropic except for 5-HT3 (ligand-gated ion channels)
Serotonin 1A receptors:
- Coupled to inhibitory G-proteins, reduce cAMP synthesis by inhibiting adenyl cyclase or opening potassium channels causing hyperpolarization and inhibition.
- Can be found in post or pre synaptic neuron and are the serotonin autoreceptors.
Serotonin 2A receptors
- are coupled to excitatory G-protein, activated protein kinase C causing calcium to increase in cell and exitation.