Neurochemistry and neuropharmacology

Question 1

What effect does cocaine have on noradrenaline in the CNS?

Answer 1

Decreases re-uptake by the presynaptic neurone

Question 2

What percentage of released noradrenaline is re-uptaken by the pre-synaptic neurone?

Answer 2

90-95%

Question 3

What effect does amphetamine have on noradrenaline in the CNS?

Answer 3

Displaces NA from storage vesicles?

Question 4

Describe the 4 steps in NA synthesis

Answer 4

1 Tyrosine taken up into cell
2 Tyrosine → L-Dopa (catalysed by tyrosin hydroxylase)
3 L-DOPA → Dopamine (catalysed by dopa decarboxylase)
4 Dopamine taken up into vesicle and converted into NA (catalysed by dopamine beta hydroxylase)

Question 5

Where in the cell are monoamine oxidases found?

Answer 5

Mitochondria

Question 6

What type of receptor is the nicotinic receptor?

Answer 6

Ligand-gated ion channel

Question 7

Which receptor to benzodiazepines act on?

Answer 7

GABA A

Question 8

What passes through the GABA A ion channel?

Answer 8

Chloride ions

Question 9

What effect does benzodiazepine binding have on the GABA A receptor?

Answer 9

Increases the GABA A’s affinity for GABA.

This increases the frequency of GABA A chloride channel opening.

Question 10

What effect do barbiturates have on the GABA A receptor?

Answer 10

Prolong opening of the GABA A chloride channel