Neurotransmitter Regulation Flashcards
What are the 5 Biogenic Amines?
What is a unique structural feature of catecholamines?
- catechol ring
How are catecholamines synthesised?
Tyrosine -> L-Dopa -> Dopamine -> Noradrenaline -> Adrenaline
How are catecholamines metabolised in nerve terminals and the liver?
How is serotonin (5HT) made?
What are the CNS effects of the neurotransmitters, Noradrenaline, Domaine and Seratonin? Discuss what effects are unique.
What are the cell bodies for NE, Seratonin and Dopamine?
- Locus coeruleneus
- Raphe nuclei
- Ventral tegmental area
What are the 5 key stages of neurotransmission?
- synthesis
- storage
- reuptake
- metabolism
- receptor activation
What are the 2 stimulants and antidepressants of noradrenaline neurotransmission?
What are the 2 stimulants and antidepressants of seratonin neurotransmission?
Compare the effect of stimulants and antidepressents.
Discuss the key 5 stages of neurotransmission with regard to Noradrenaline.
- Synthesis - Tyrosine -> Dopa -> dopamine
- Storage - into vesicles via VMAT
- Metabolism - MAO, break down noradrenaline
- Release - released into the synaptic cleft, can activate adrenoreceptors
- degradation - NET, takes it up
What are indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines?
What are 3 drugs that fall under this class?
- indirectly causes the release of NE: doesn’t act on the actual receptor, causes release, therefore, mimics the effect of NE
- amphetamines, ephedrine, tyramine
What are the direct and indirect sites of action of indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines?
- NET (direct)
- VMAT (direct)
- Adrenoreceptors (indirect)
What is a drug class and examples that block Noradrenaline Transporter (NET)?
- NET inhibitors: blocks NET, prevents reuptake and metabolism in the presynaptic nerve terminal, leaves NE in cleft for a more extended period of time, increases the duration of action)
- Desipramine (antidepressant)
- Cocaine (stimulant)
What is a drug class and examples that block Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)?
- MAO inhibitors: leads to decrease the metabolism of neurotransmitters
- ## Moclobemide (not used much due to side effects)
Explain the “Cheese effect” of MAO inhibitors.
Discuss the key 5 stages of neurotransmission with regard to Serotonin.
- Synthesis - Tryptophan -> 5-TH
- Storage - into vesicles via VMAT
- Metabolism - MAO breaks it down
- Release - into postsynaptic nerve terminals
- Reuptake - SERT
What is a drug class indirectly increases the amount of serotonin released? Provide and example.
- indirect serotonergic agonists
- MDMA ( this can also act directly on the receptors)
What is a drug class that selectively blocks the reuptake of serotonin via SERT? Provide an example.
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- fluoxetine (antidepressants)
What classes of drugs are causing drug-induced deaths in Australia?
What classes of drugs are causing hospitalisation in Australia?
What is the most common depressant?
Alcohol
What is the main mechanism of alcohol action?
activation of GABA, the main inhibitory transmitter in the CNS
How is alcohol metabolised?
What are neurotoxicity and hepatoxicity in alcohol toxicity?
Discuss Alcohol tolerance
What is the main component of cannabis? What is its mechanism of action?
THC
What drug class increases excitation in the brain?
psychostimulants
What drug class is dopamine? What can happen if we have too little or too much?
What drug class is cocaine? What is its mechanism of action? What are some effects of this drug?
What are the pharmacokinetic of cocaine? Administration? Half-life?
What are the toxic effects of cocaine?
What drug class is methamphetamine (“Ice”)? What is the difference between these and amphetamines? What is the mechanism of action?
What are the effects of methamphetamines?
What is the route of administration of methamphetamines?
What is the mechanism of action of MDMA? What are some effects?
What are the pharmacokinetics of MDMA?
What are the negative effects of MDMA?
What are psychotomimetic drugs? Examples? Who discovered these?
- LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
- mimic psychosis (when you have a break from reality)
- Hoffman in 1943 and 1957
What is the mechanism of action of LSD and psilocybin?
What are some long-term implications for recreational drugs?
