Neurochemical pathways Flashcards
Three types of dopaminergic pathways
Long paths
Short paths
Ultra-short paths
Long dopaminergic pathways
Nigrostriatal
Mesocortical
Mesolimbic
Short dopaminergic pathways
Tuberoinfundibular
Incertohypothalamic
Origin and destination of the nigrostriatal pathway
Substantia nigra to the striatum and amygdala
Effect of dopamine blockade on the nigrostriatal pathway
Extrapyramidal side effects
Origin and destination of the mesolimbic pathway
Ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus
Effect of dopamine blockade on the mesolimbic pathway
Controls positive psychotic symptoms
Origin and destination of the mesocortical pathway
Ventral tegmental area to the cingulate cortex and prefrontal regions
Effect of dopamine blockade on the mesocortical pathway
Negative symptoms - alogia, anhedonia, apathy
Origin and destination of the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Hypothalamus to the pituitary
Effect of dopamine blockade on the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Increased prolactin levels
Course of the incertohypothalamic pathway
Internal connections within the hypothalamus
Effect of dopamine blockade on the incertohypothalamic pathway
Poor thermoregulation
Weight gain
Dopaminergic pathway which is crucial for motor control
Nigrostriatal
Two major cholinergic pathways
Brainstem pathway
Basal forebrain pathway
Function of the brainstem pathway
Maintaining wakefulness and REM sleep
System which the brainstem pathway forms part of
Ascending reticular activating system
Origin of the basal forebrain pathway
Nucleus basalis of Meynert
Disease associated with degeneration of the basal forebrain pathway
Alzheimer’s disease
Origin of most of the brain’s serotonergic pathways
Dorsal and median rafe nuclei
Origin of the noradrenergic pathways
Pons
Type of pathway which makes up most of the corona radiata
Glutamatergic
Type of pathway which makes up thalamocortical projections
Glutamatergic
Most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glutamatergic
Most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABAergic system
Type of neurons which are majority GABAergic
Interneurons
Two major types of interneurons
Parvalbumin expressing interneurons
Somatostatin expressing interneurons
Two subtypes of parvalbumin expressing interneurons
Basket cells
Chandelier cells
Dopamine pathway which is responsible for increased salience to unimportant events in schizophrenia
Mesolimbic
Dopaminergic pathway referred to as the reward pathway
Mesolimbic
