Neurotransmitters Flashcards
The effect the receptor has is dependent on…
the type of receptor it is and what mechanisms they employ to signal they’ve been activated
Direct effect on membrane potential =
excitatory or inhibitory
Indirect effect on membrane potential =
positively or negatively modulatory
Indirect effect on transmitter release =
generally negatively modulatory
Example of direct effect
Ligand-gated ion channels - allow ions to flow through membrane
Example of direct effect
Ligand-gated ion channels - allow ions to flow through membrane
Example of indirect effect
GPCRs- when activated, they interact with ligand-gated or voltage-gated ion channels therefore indirect.
GPCRs
modulate the channels that directly effect the membrane potential therefore have a modulatory effect
Pre auto-receptors
tend to be inhibitory (or negatively modulatory)- they inhibit NT release
Glutamate is a…
major excitatory NT acting at pre- and postsynaptic receptors
GABA is a…
major inhibitory NT acting at pre- and postsynaptic receptors
Glycine is a…
inhibitory NT in spinal cord and brain stem / excitatory co-agonist at glutamatergic NMDARs
what determines whether a NT is excitatory or inhibitory?
the receptor it acts on, not the NT itself
