neurotransmission

Question 1

cell types in the brain

Answer 1

• neurons
• astrocytes
• microglia
• endothelial cells & pericytes

Question 2

parts of a neuron

Answer 2

nucleus
cell body
dendrites
axon

Question 3

4 types of astrocytes in the human cortex

Answer 3

• protoplasmic
• interlaminar astrocytes
• fibrous astrocytes
• polarized astrocytes

Question 4

function of astrocytes

Answer 4

• brain support
• release & take up NT (e.g. glutamate)
• express receptors (e.g. NMDA)
• regulate synaptic transmission
• conduct electrical events via gap junctions
• brain pathology e.g. form scars
• immune activation

Question 5

protoplasmic astrocytes

Answer 5

• most common type
• reside in layers 2-6 of the cortex
• domain structure ~ 1 astrocyte might cover 10 nerve cell bodies

Question 6

fibrous astrocytes

Answer 6

• found in the white and grey matter
• their processes intermingle (dont form a domain structure)
• serve a support role and respond to brain injury

Question 7

gliotransmission & glioneuronal functional units

Answer 7

• describes the process of release of NT from astrocytes and acting on neurons
• greatly enlarged the role of astrocytes in normal brain function

Question 8

microglia

Answer 8

• surveyors of the brains micro-environment
• resident macrophages of the brain
• mediate the brain immune response
• phagocytose debris
• help sculpt the brain during development

Question 9

what is the relationship between brain endothelial cells and pericytes

Answer 9

-pericytes encase endothelial cells in brain capillaries and maintain the BBB

Question 10

how is the termination of a transmitters action achieved?

Answer 10

achieved by either metabolism and/or re-uptake into neurons and/or glial cells (astrocytes) by specific transporter proteins e.g. anti-depressants

Question 11

chemical neuroanatomy

Answer 11

the study of the anatomical localization of NT systems

a drug will not only depend on which NT system it modulates/mimics but also on the anatomical localization of the NT system

Question 12

amino acid derivatives

Answer 12

GABA, glutamate, glycine

Question 13

neuromodulators

Answer 13

produce slower pre and post-synaptic responses. released by nerve cells & astrocytes (e.g. adenosine)

Question 14

neurotrophic factors

Answer 14

released by non-neuronal cells (e.g. astrocytes, microglia) and neurons and work over long-time scales

act on tyrosine-kinase receptors to mediate growth, morphology, functional properties, survival promoting effects in the nervous system

Question 15

fast acting neurotransmitters

Answer 15

work via ion channels (e.g. glycine, GABA, glutamate

Question 16

slow acting neurotransmitters

Answer 16

work via G-protein coupled receptors (DA, neuropeptides, GABA, ACh)