Neurotransmitters

Question 1

What is a Catecholamine?

Answer 1

A catecholamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter, an organic compound that has a catechol and a side-chain amine.
Catechol can be either a free molecule or a substituent of a larger molecule, where it represents a 1,2-dihydroxybenzene group

Question 2

What is a catechol group?

Answer 2

a benzenediol comprising of a benzene core carrying two hydroxy substituents ortho to each other

Question 3

what is an amine group?

Answer 3

amines are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair.

Question 4

within the category of small molecule neurotransmitters, what four subdivisions are there?

Answer 4

small molecule neurotransmitters:
* acetylcholine
* amino acids
* purines
* biogenic amines

Question 5

give four examples of neurotransmitters that are amino acids

Answer 5

• Glutamate
• Aspartate
• GABA
• Glycine

Question 6

give five examples of neurotransmitters that are biogenic amines

Answer 6

• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine
• Epinephrine
• Serotonin (5-HT)
• Histamine

Question 7

how big are peptide neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

usually 3-36 amino acids long

Question 8

which neurotransmitters are catecholamines?

Answer 8

• dopamine
• norepinephrine
• epinephrine

Question 9

which neurotransmitter is an indoleamine?

Answer 9

Serotonin (5-HT)

Question 10

which neurotransmitter is an imidazoleamine?

Answer 10

histamine

Question 11

where do virtally all of the Noradrenaline pathways originate?

Answer 11

Locus coeruleus

a nucleus in the midbrain, part of the reticular formation

Question 12

Describe the axons in Noradrenaline pathways

Answer 12

The axons consist of highly branched, largely unmyelinated axons. long axonal tracts
The axons innervate the limbic system and limbic areas of the cortex
and innervate areas controlling sensory input; key involvement in perception and attentional processes

Question 13

what are the three major dopamine nucleii?

Answer 13

• substantia nigra,
• ventral tegmental area,
• arcuate nucleus of the hypothalalmus

Question 14

what are the three main dopamine pathways?

Answer 14

• Nigrostriatal pathway: motor control
• Mesolimbic & mesocortical pathways: behaviour

Question 15

what nuclei harbour neurons that synthesise 5-HT?

Answer 15

Raphe nucleii

Question 16

where are the raphe nucleii found and what does it innervate?

Answer 16

Raphe nuclei are in the medulla – part of the reticular formation (involved in arousal)

Innervate limbic (and cortical) systems

Question 17

Cholinergic neurons are important for _______ _______________ within discrete nucleii

Answer 17

Cholinergic neurons are import for local processing within discrete nuclei

Question 18

give two examples of neurotransmitters with ubiquitous distribution

(everywhere)

Answer 18

Glutamate and GABA

Question 19

what is the major excitatory neurotransmitter?

Answer 19

glutamate

Question 20

what are the three types of ionotropic glutamate receptors?

Answer 20

AMPA receptors, NMDA receptors, and kainate receptors

Question 21

what is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 21

GABA

Question 22

what two broad categories can neurotransmitters be classfied into?

Answer 22

• small molecule neurotransmitter
• neuropeptides

Question 23

what is the precursor to Acetylcholine

Answer 23

Choline + Acetyl CoA

Question 24

what is the precursor to Glutamate?

Answer 24

Glutamine

Question 25

what is the precursor to GABA?

Answer 25

Glutamate

Question 26

what is the precursor to glycine?

Answer 26

Serine

Question 27

what is the precursor molecule to catecholamines?

(epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine)

Answer 27

tyrosine

Question 28

what is the precursor molecule to serotonin?

Answer 28

tryptophan

Question 29

what is the precurser to histamine?

Answer 29

histidine

Question 30

what are the four main dopamine pathways?

Answer 30

the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, mesocortical, and tuberoinfundibular pathways