Neurochemistry Flashcards
Carrot shaped eosinophilic inclusions seen on hematoxylin and eosinophilic stains
Rosenthal fibres
What are Rosenthal fibres the diagnostic signature of?
Alexander’s leukodystrophy
What are Hirano bodies?
Oval to enlongated rod-shaped, eosinophilic inclusions
When would you find high numbers of Hirano bodies?
Alzheimer’s
What type of receptors are beta-adrenergic?
Gs coupled - increase adenylate cyclase
What type of receptors are Alpha 1 receptors?
Phospholipase C coupled
What type of receptors are alpha 2 receptors?
Gi-coupled (inhibitory)
What is the precursor of serotonin?
Tryptophan
What does tryptophan become before serotonin?
5hydroxy 1-tryptophan
What type of receptor is GABA-A?
Ionotropic
Which cells produced GABA in the cerebellum?
Purkinje
What does the loss of GABA neurones in the caudate and putamen occur in?
Huntington’s
What is the predominant CNS metabolite of NA?
MHPG
Outside of the brain, what is the predominant metabolite of NA?
VMA (this is why levels of VMA increase in peripheral NA producing tumours such as phaeochromocytoma)
Can NA cross the BBB?
No
Can NA metabolites cross the BBB?
No other than MHPG
Name 2 inhibitory amino acids
GABA
Glycine
What type of receptor is a D2 receptor?
Presynaptic inhibitory receptor - dopamine inhibits its own release through D2 autoreceptors
2 examples of catecholamines
Dopamine and Noradrenaline
Example of an indolamine
Serotonin