Neurotransmitters Flashcards
DA release in what structure represents the common final event associated w/ the reinforcing effects of opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, PCP, and alcohol?
Nucleus accumbens
In addiction, dopaminergic neurons project to the nucleus accumbens. Cell bodies of these neurons reside in which area of the brain?
Ventral tegmental area
What is the neurohormone for social bonding?
Oxytocin
Surge of which hormone is responsible for orgasm?
Oxytocin
What is the role of glycine at the NMDA receptor?
Obligate co-agonist
Which neurotransmitter system is the last to mature in the CNS of children and adolescents?
Cholinergic
What compound increases muscle mass by increasing episodic secretion of GH?
Gamma hydroxybutyrate
Which neurotransmitter is predominantly inhibitory?
Glycine
What is the neurochemical that acutely reinforces the effects of drugs of abuse?
Dopamine
Decreased levels of which NT is most associated with depressed mood, poor sleep, poor impulse control, and affective aggression?
Serotonin
What is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of norepinephrine and dopamine?
Tyrosine hydroxylase
The metabolite of what hormone modulates GABA-A, as seen in depression?
Progesterone
What NT is downregulated in the ventral striatum of someone with persistent pain?
Dopamine
Pain from neurogenic inflammation is mediated by what brain chemical?
Substance P
There is increased activity of this substance in MDD, regardless of treatment modality:
BDNF
What cation is an antagonist at the NMDA receptor?
Magnesium
What receptor is critical for long-term potentiation?
NMDA receptor
Neuronal death caused by NMDA receptor stimulation is due to _______.
Excessive calcium influx resulting in mitochondrial caspase activation
Blocking which neuropeptide receptor provides analgesia?
Nociceptin
What NT has the highest affinity for human CB-1 receptor?
Anandamide
How do steroids affect the hippocampus?
Decrease AMPA glutamate signaling
What is the predominant site of endocannabinoid receptor CB1?
Presynaptic membrane
This peptide is released into the GI tract and conveys feelings of satiety after food intake:
Cholecystokinin
L-methylfolate helps with depression by increasing production of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine by increasing what?
Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)
What is the molecular mechanism for ethanol intoxication?
NMDA antagonism, GABA agonism
IV ketamine works through antagonism of what neurotransmitter system?
NMDA
An intubated patient becomes agitated and has delirious symptoms. Which neurotransmitter is associated with AMS?
Acetylcholine
What neurotransmitter stimulates AMPA receptors?
Glutamate
What neurotransmitter is involved in the sleep-promoting neurons of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus?
GABA-A
What neurotransmitter system is involved in sexual arousal?
Dopamine
What brain region has the highest concentration of 5HT producing cells?
Raphe nuclei
What 2 NTs regulate reward circuitry?
- DA
- GABA
Cerebellar purkinje cells release what neurotransmitter?
GABA
What neurotransmitter is a precursor to melatonin?
Serotonin
What area of the body has the most serotonin?
GI tract
What neurotransmitters have been associated with anxiety?
Norepinephrine
Positive allosteric modulators of neurotransmitter-gated, multimeric ion channels do what?
Increase probability of opening in the presence of a ligand
Where are the major clusters of cell bodies containing serotonin in teh brain?
Raphe nucleus in the brainstem
What is the principal mechanism of termination of synaptic activity of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex?
Diffusion
Opiates inhibit cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in what brain region?
Locus coeruleus
What neurotransmitter maintains consistent levels with age?
Serotonin
Which 2 neurotransmitters are reduced in quantity, uptake, and turnover in spasticity?
- Glycine
- GABA
The cognitive enhancement associated with experimental D-cycloserine treatment in patients w/ schizophrenia has been attributed to enhancement of NMDA receptor activity by which NT?
Glycine
What NT is associated w/ reward and reinforcement in nicotine dependence?
Dopamine
Prostaglandin D2 increases extracellular levels of ________.
Adenosine
Which is a retrograde neurotransmitter?
Endocannabinoids
What NT is not stored in synaptic vesicles, but instead is made de novo?
Endocannabinoids
What action do ACh receptors have in the cerebral cortex?
Both inhibitory and excitatory
Low CSF levels of this NT’s metabolites is associated with suicidality:
5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA)
What is the 5HT3 receptor classification?
Ligand-gated
Psychological stress increases cortisol, and prolonged cortisol elevation is associated w/ poor outcomes. Stress also affects other hormones.
Increase in which hormone is correlated with decreased PTSD severity, most likely d/t it’s anti-glucocorticoid properties?
DHEA
What hormone is diffused rather than directly released from vesicles?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Activation of this receptor is likely responsible for the anti-anxiety, motor-impairment, and sedative-hypnotic effects of alcohol:
GABA-A
What neurotransmitter is implicated in regulating sleep and wakefulness?
Histamine
What neurons cease firing during REM sleep?
Histaminergic
What NT is thought to play a key role in tine-tuning working memory function in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?
Dopamine
Changes in tyrosine hydroxylase levels would affect what type of neurons?
Dopaminergic
Blockade of which receptor causes the sedation and weight gain side effects of antipsychotics and antidepressants?
Histamine
What NT present in the periaqueductal gray matter is involved in the mediation of pain?
Endorphins
Which NT, if dysfunctional, most replicates the core symptoms of schizophrenia?
Glutamate
Which receptor does BDNF activate?
Tropomyosin receptor kinase B
Orexin is associated with what basic funciton?
Sleep
What receptor class characteristically has multiple protein subunits and is capable of rapid response to generate synaptic energy potentials?
Inotropic
Neurotensin interacts with which NT system?
Dopamine
What serotonin subtype is modulated by alcohol?
5HT-3
What neuropeptide is involved with panic disorder?
Cholecystokinin
GABA-A receptor activation leads to what ion movement?
Cl- efflux hyperpolarizes the neuron
Ghrelin is synthesized and released primarily by what anatomical structures?
Stomach and small intestine
Ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effect is attributable to this neurotransmitter:
Glutamate
What hormone is involved in osmoregulation, food intake, and female sexual behaviors?
Oxytocin
