Neuropharmacology Flashcards
What is a neurotransmitter?
released by presynaptic terminals and produce rapid excitatory or inhibitory responses in postsynaptic neurons
Give examples of fast neurotransmitters?
glutamate; GABA
What type of channel do fast neurotransmitters operate through?
ligan-gated ion channels
What are neuromodulators?
released by neurons and by astrocytes, produce slower pre- or post-synaptic responses, indirectly modulate the probability of other ion channels opening in response to voltage changes
What are neurotrophic factors?
released mainly by non-neuronal cells and act on tyrosine kinase-linked receptors that regulate gene expression and control neuronal growth and phenotypic characteristics
How do slow neurotransmitters and neuromodulators work?
through GPCRs
Give examples of agents which work as both neurotransmitter and modulator, using both ion channels and GPCRs?
glutamate; 5-HT; ACh
What is a psychotropic drug?
drug that affects mood and behaviour
What is the principal excitatory transmitter in the CNS?
L-glutamate
What is the action of memantine?
NMDA-antagonist
How is glutatmate in the CNS synthesised?
mainly from glucose via Kreb cycle or glutamine synthesised by glial cells
What are hte main inhibitory amino acids?
GABA; glycine
How are fast neurotransmitters stored?
synaptic vesicles
How are neurotransmitters released from synaptic vesicles?
calcium dependent exocytosis
What happens glutamate taken up by astrocytes
?
converted to glutamine
Give an example of an ionotrophic receptor?
ligand-gated ion channel
Give an example of a metabotrophic receptor?
GPCR
What are the 3 types of glutamate receptor?
NMDA; AMPA and kainate
How many types of subunit are NMDA receptors made from?
7
What is the function of the dendrites of a neurone?
receive inputs from other neurones and convey graded electrical signals passively to the soma
Where is the site of initiation of the AP in the neurone?
axon hillock and initial segment
Give an example of a unipolar neurone?
peripheral autonomic neurone
Give an example of a pseudounipolar neurone?
dorsal root ganglion neurone
Give an example of a bipolar neurone?
retinal bipolar neurone
Give an example of a multipolar neurone?
lower motor neurone
What are the 4 functional regions of neurones?
input; integrative; conductile; output
What defines the distance over which a current spreads thorugh the axon?
membrane resistance and axial resistance of the axoplasm
What is the most common type of synapse?
axodendritic
What is the least common type of synapse?
axoaxonic
Where do vesciles containing neurotransmitter cluster presynaptically?
around the active zones
Where are the neurotransmitter receptors found in greatest numbers postsynpatically?
postsynaptic density
What effect does glutatmate release have on the post-synaptic terminal?
causes influx of sodium, resulting in an epsp
What effect does GABA have on the postsynaptic cleft?
chloride release and an ipsp
What is the difference between spatial and temporal summation in synaptic integration?
spatial: many inputs determine the output whereas temporal- AP frequency of one single input determines outpu
What are peptides released from?
secretory vesicles
Why is the synthesis of glycine and glutatmate different to GABA and amines?
glycine and glutamate are amino acids foudn in every cell whereas GABA and amines aren’t
What type of receptor is GABAa?
ligand-gated ion channel
What type of receptor is GABAb?
GPCR
Where are GABAa receptors mainly located in the synapse?
post-synpatically
How do GABAb receptors work?
inhibit voltage gated Ca channels to reduce trasmitter release and increase potassium conductance both pre- and post synaptically
How do GABAa receptors work?
allow chloride into neurone, hyperpolarising it
What is long term potentiation?
prolonged enhancement of synaptic transmission that occurs at various CNS synapses following a short burst of high-freq presynaptic stiulation
What does activation of NMDA receptors require?
binding of both glutamate and glycine
What is the general structure of ionotropic glutamate receptors?
tetramer
What is the general difference between NMDA and AMPA receptors in terms of effector mechanism?
NMDA: slow kinetcs with high Ca permeability whereas AMPA have fast kinetics with low Ca permeability
What ion blocks NMDA receptors?
Mg
How do BZDs act on GABA receptors?
bind to an accessory site (BZD receptor) on GABAa
What receptor does baclofen work on?
GABAb
Where is glycine found in particularly high concentrations?
spinal cord
What neurotransmitter is affected by tetanus toxin?
prevents glycine release at inhibitory interneurons resulting in excess reflex hyperexcitability and spasms
How is GABA made?
from glutamate by glutaminc acid decarboxylase
What are the principal amine transmitters?
5-HT; ACh; dopamine
Where is the most prominent cluster of NA cell bodies?
locus coeruleus in the pons
What type of receptor are adrenoceptors?
GPCR
What are the functions of noradrenergic transmission?
arousal system; blood pressure regulation and control of mood
Give examples of drugs which act of noradrenergic transmission in the CNS?
antidepressants; cocaine; amphetamine
Where is dopamine foudn in the highest quantities in the brain?
corpus striatum
What are the 4 main dopamine pathways in the brain?
1- nigrostriatal pathway
2-mesolimbic pathway
3-mesocortical pathway
4- tuberohypophyseal